In the Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, a tragic incident occurred on August 16, 2023, where a 17-year-old boy named Ferdinand Afor was fatally shot by a hunter while gathering wild ukazi leaves with friends for sale in preparation for the New Yam festival. The hunter, from the neighboring Okwango community, claimed to have mistaken the boy for an animal. After turning himself in to the Bateriko Division of the Nigerian Police Force, he is currently in custody. The incident has cast a somber mood over the community. Representatives from the Okwango community are scheduled to meet with the Wula community to discuss future steps, including a cleansing ritual.
