4 Killed In Renewed Ebonyi Land Dispute 

At least four persons have been confirmed dead, while houses and other household properties worth millions were destroyed following a renewed hostility between the people of Ndukwe Community, Amasiri in the 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.

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

A source who spoke to LEADERSHIP on the grounds of anonymity said that both communities had recorded casualties since the crisis started and urged the present administration to implement the recommendations of the white paper.

The continued killings of the people of Okporojo in Osso and Ndukwe Community in Amasiri is gradually becoming alarming. Several efforts to ensure the resolution of the crisis have been fruitless. Each time there is hostility, lives are lost, and properties are destroyed.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared the disputed land between the people of the Ndukwe Community in Amasiri and Okporojo in Osso, Edda local government area, a buffer zone.

In an interview, the chairman of Edda local government area, Mr Chima Ekumankama said about four persons were allegedly killed at Okporojo Idima in Osso Edda during the attack but noted that security operatives had been deployed to restore normalcy.

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

“Thank God for the proactive nature of the State Governor. In his wisdom, he has moved in security agents to the area and 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.”

The chairman of the Afikpo local government area, Chief Timothy Nwachi, explained that the state government had also deployed security operatives to the buffer zone to de-escalate 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.

“Government on their own have meet with me and my counterpart from Edda local government area, Hon Chima Ekumankama being the two chairmen the dispute is happening in their area.

“During the meeting, a robust mechanism was put in place, but it takes a process, and as we speak, we are currently in that process to ensure that the government comes in and makes a clear position.

“But for the meantime, as a proactive government, the State Governor has declared that disputed area a buffer zone and today we made it clear to them that no person should step into the place.”

When contacted, the state police public relations officer, Mr Joshua Ukandu, said he had not been briefed about any attack that occurred in the area.