No fewer than 50 persons were reportedly killed after invaders, suspected to be from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State, in the early hours of Tuesday, raided fishing communities in Akwa Ibom State.

The incident which occurred in Akpan Mfrekim Community in Akan Obio in Uruan Local Government Area, left several others critically injured.

Transition Committee Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Edwin Okon, lamented that the prolonged crisis between the communities in the two states has forced the remaining people in the affected community to seek refuge elsewhere.

“Farming and fishing which are the major sources of livelihood of my people, have been gravely affected by the unannounced invasion of our communities by the invaders from Odukpani,” he said.

He appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other related agencies to assist in providing a temporary refuge for the displaced people of the area.

He further solicited the help and cooperation of security agencies in improving security along the waterfronts by providing gunboats to forestall any attacks in the future.