4 Killed, Houses Destroyed In Ebonyi Communal Clash

At least four persons have been confirmed dead, while houses and other properties worth millions of Naira destroyed following a renewed hostility between the people of Ndukwe Community, Amasiri in Afikpo local government area and Okporojo in Osso Edda local government area of Ebonyi State.

The land dispute has lasted for decades with the past administration succeeding in obtaining a white paper from a committee it set up to look into the crisis.

Hostilities has however continued to erupt with several people killed and properties destroyed following the alleged failure by previous administrations in the state to implement the recommendations contained in the white paper.

A source who spoke to LEADERSHIP on the condition of anonymity, said the both communities have recoded a number of fatal casualties since the crisis stated and urged the present administration to implement the recommendations contained in the white paper.

The continued killings in the communities is becoming alarming as several efforts to resolve the crisis has been fruitless.

Meanwhile, the State government has declared the disputed as a buffer zone.

The Chairman, Edda local government area, Mr Chima Ekumankama said about four persons were killed at Okporojo Idima in Osso Edda during the attack.

He noted that security operatives had been deployed to restore normalcy.

He pointed out that he had visited the area to reassure the people of government’s commitment towards ending the lingering dispute.

Ekumankama commended the state governor, Francis Nwifuru for taking proactive steps by moving security agents to the area. “I can assure you that normalcy and peace have returned to the area. I personally visited the area and witnessed the level of destruction done and as we speak, there are enough security personnel in the area to forestall a reoccurrence.”

For his part, Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Chief Timothy Nwachi also explained that the state government had deployed security operatives to the buffer zone to deescalate tension and restore normalcy in the two communities.

He described the renewed hostility as unfortunate and appealed to the people of Amasiri to remain calm pending government’s decision on the matter.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Joshua Ukandu said he had not been briefing about any attack that occurred in the area.