By Onwa Ekor
Cross River Police Command has confirmed the death of two middle aged men who allegedly killed themselves following the disappearance of a bunch of plantain from a farm.
Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the Command affirmed that “investigations were ongoing to ascertain the cause of such brutal attack by two men on each other with machetes, without other members of the community making effort to stop them.”
The incident reportedly emanated from an argument over the disappearance of a bunch of plantain from a farm in Akpap-Okoyong community in Odukpani local government area of Cross River.
A resident of the area identified as Ete Mma, informed newsmen that the victims, Edet and Effiong, during the confrontation had inflicted machete wounds on each other.
The source explained that the issue started when Effiong discovered that a bunch of plantain had gone missing from his farm.
Complaining loudly in the community, the source further said that Effiong was allegedly informed by another resident of the area that Edet had earlier been seen coming from the direction of the farm with a bunch of plantain.
This, the source explained, allegedly pained Effiong who rushed, located Effiong and firstly used the machete in his possession to inflict deep cuts on Edet.
The action allegedly prompted Edet to retaliate after grabbing another machete that was lying nearby.
Accordingly, both men were rushed to a nearby health centre but allegedly could not receive the appropriate medical attention due to the paucity of facilities and equipment to manage the severity of the deep inflicted wounds.
The deaths have thrown the entire community into mourning as residents who gather in groups continue to lament how minor and solve able issues would be allowed to generate into violent and deadly attacks.
