Ayade imposes curfew on two communities in Cross River

The Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on two communities that clashed on Thursday. The communities are Ovonum and Ofatura in Obubra Local Government Area of the state and the curfew takes immediate effect. A statement by Governor Ayade’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, announced the curfew. According to the statement, “following the ongoing communal clashes between Ovonum and Ofatura communities in Obubra Local Government Area, the state Governor, His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade has imposed a 6pm-6am curfew on both communities with immediate effect.” The Governor also directed security agencies in the state to ensure strict enforcement of the curfew. “The Governor decries the destruction of lives and property in the renewed clashes and vows that government will bring to book all those behind the clashes,” the statement added. The cause of the clashes could not be immediately ascertained. However, many communities in the state usually fight over farmlands.