By George Onah
Port Harcourt-No fewer than 35 people, among them a soldier, have been reported killed in a cross-border clash between Boje and Nsadop communities, Boki Local Government of Cross River State. The fight was over a piece of farmland.

Vanguard learnt that scores of houses, including mansions and a housing estate belonging to some top politicians in the area were razed, while hundreds of people have been displaced from the two communities.

Witnesses said the fighting started on Thursday last week and heightened on Friday and Saturday, following which, the soldier who was among some trouble shooters sent to quell the fighting was gunned down by the feuding communities.

Nsadop community is said be worse hit in the fratricidal war, in which the combatants climbed trees in the dark and thickly forested local government, using all manner of weapons including sophisticated rifles to maul down opponents.

An Nsadop villager who is a farmer Mr. Cletus Bisong told Vanguard on phone that he lost two sons and a daughter, who were sleeping, when his house was set ablaze at about 2 a.m. on Saturda, by some men suspected to be from Boje.

The state governor Mr. Liyel Imoke was said to have visited the area, Sunday, to sue for peace and access the extent of damage done to the area. Boki Council forms part of the state’s tourism site that hosts canopy walk in the virgin forests.

In addition to the human casualties, some gorillas and monkeys said to be endangered  species were gunned down during the shootout. The gorillas and baboons are currently protected by the Cross River Wild Life and state tourism authorities.

Graveyard peace is said to have returned to the place as soldiers and policemen now patrol the area. The forest is also being combed by security men to arrest any gun bearer or those suspected to be warming up for more trouble.