Tragic: Chieftaincy Title Tussle Takes Lives of over 20 People in Cross River

As tourists from various countries arrive the capital of Cross River State, Calabar, for the 2013 Carnival, the people of Ofodua in Obubra LGA have been thrown into mourning and disarray with the killing of about 20 people by some hoodlums over a chieftaincy tussle.

According to Leadership, over 20 people were slain and property, including residential buildings, motorcycles, assorted cars, refrigerators and electronics and etc., worth over a billion naira, was destroyed.

The clash has erupted between Va-Egbe village and Va-Egba, Iva Ibetono, Iva Awinotogbe, Iva Obeten over who succeeds the late monarch, Chief Oden.

Scores of the Ofodua indigenes were arrested and detained in police custdy at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Diamond Hill, Calabar, with others escaping to neighbouring communities.

It was further learnt that the communal clash stemmed from the demise of the Ofodua Clan Head, Chief Oden who was said to have come from the royal family of the community.

A youth leader, Mr. Stephen Ovat told the reporters that the Ofodua Clan Headship was monarchical and they had already commenced the process of crowning the next chief from Va-Egbe, the royal household, when some people plotted and invited a Lagos-based commercial motorcycle operator, Mr. Festus Egbe to return home to be crowned. 

Leadership