Calabar — Two middle-aged men have lost their lives following a violent machete fight in Akpap-Okoyong community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, in a dispute allegedly sparked by the disappearance of a bunch of plantain.
The incident occurred over the weekend when an argument between the two men, identified as Edet and Effiong, escalated into a deadly confrontation.
An eyewitness and community resident, Ettenma, said the crisis began after Effiong discovered that a bunch of plantain had been cut from his farm. While lamenting the loss, Effiong was reportedly told by someone that Edet had been seen coming from the direction of the farm with a bunch of plantain.
Angered by the information, Effiong allegedly went to Edet’s residence armed with a machete to confront him. What started as a verbal exchange quickly degenerated into violence.
“Effiong, out of anger, attacked Edet with the machete,” Ettenma said. “Edet then picked up a machete that was beside him and retaliated. Before anyone could intervene, both men had already inflicted deep cuts on each other.”
Residents rushed the injured men to a nearby health centre, but their condition reportedly worsened due to the severity of their wounds and the lack of adequate medical facilities.
“They could not receive proper treatment because the health centre lacked the equipment needed to handle such injuries,” the eyewitness added. “Both men later died from excessive blood loss and dehydration.”
The tragic incident has thrown Akpap-Okoyong community into mourning, with residents describing the deaths as senseless and avoidable.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Cross River State Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo (for example) said the police had commenced investigations into the incident.
“Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the brutal attack and why such violence occurred without timely intervention from members of the community,” the police spokesperson said.
The police also urged residents to seek lawful means of resolving disputes and warned against taking the law into their own hands.
