Two middle-aged men have died following a violent confrontation involving machetes at the weekend in Akpap-Okoyong community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident was said to have arisen from a dispute over the alleged disappearance of a bunch of plantain from a farm.
An eyewitness and resident of the community, identified as Ete Mma, told journalists that the deceased, Edet and Effiong, engaged in a fight during which they inflicted fatal injuries on each other.
According to the eyewitness, trouble started when Effiong noticed that a bunch of plantains had been cut from his farm and began complaining openly within the community.
He was allegedly informed by another resident that Edet had been seen coming from the direction of the farm with a bunch of plantain.
Ete Mma explained that the disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation, during which both men reportedly attacked each other with machetes.
The two men were rushed to a nearby health centre but were said to have died after failing to receive adequate medical attention, as the facility lacked the equipment needed to manage the severity of their injuries.
The incident has thrown the Akpap-Okoyong community into mourning, with residents expressing concern over the increasing resort to violence over minor disputes.
When contacted, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Akata, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the clash and why the situation was not contained before it escalated.
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