Over 45 killed in a communal clash in Nigeria

, May 29: Over 45 people, including a village head and four policemen, were killed in an internecine

between two local neighbouring communities in southeastern

, an official said on Wednesday. More than 2,000 people were also displaced and houses and churches destroyed after the fight broke out between the Ntan Obu and Ikpanya communities. They share boundaries with each other despite being in different states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom, respectively.

Children aged between three to five and women were among the victims of the attack and the head of crimes of a police station was also killed. "The remote cause, I can say, is the struggle by the people from the Ikpanya for the land belonging to the Ntan Obu," chairman of a local council Stephen Asuquo was quoted by a local daily, Vanguard. He added that the community head and four policemen were beheaded by the Fulani herdsmen who aided the Ikpanya villagers.

Police spokesman for Cross River state, Hogan Bassey confirmed the incident but could not give the exact figure of casualties. Community sources said Ikpanya villagers attacked Ntan Obu people with the help of Fulani herdsmen who are the most itinerant people in the oil-rich African country. Nigeria has a population of 150 million with more than 200 ethnic groups. Internecine clashes are a common occurrence. Early January, communal clash broke out between two communities, Ezillo and Ezza in Ebonyi state, leading to death of 66 people.

PTI