Two middle-aged men have been confirmed dead following a violent machete fight in Akpap-Okoyong community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The tragic incident reportedly stemmed from an argument over the disappearance of a bunch of plantain from a farm.
An eyewitness and resident of the community, identified as Ete Mma, told journalists that the victims, Edet and Effiong, inflicted fatal machete wounds on each other during the confrontation.
According to Ete Mma, the dispute began when Effiong discovered that a bunch of plantain had been cut from his farm. While complaining loudly in the community, Effiong was allegedly informed by another resident that Edet had been seen coming from the direction of the farm with a bunch of plantain.
He explained that Effiong first used the machete in his possession to inflict deep cuts on Edet, prompting Edet to grab another machete lying nearby and retaliate.
Both men were rushed to a nearby health centre but reportedly could not receive adequate medical attention due to the lack of facilities and equipment to manage the severity of their injuries.
The deaths have thrown the Akpap-Okoyong community into mourning, with residents lamenting the growing trend of violent disputes over minor issues.
When contacted, Cross River Police spokesperson, Sunday Akata said investigations were ongoing to “ascertain the cause of such brutal attack by two men on each other with machetes without other members of the community making effort to stop them.”
