By Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki
Five persons and a pregnant woman have been confirmed dead following a renewed land dispute between the people of Ndukwe community, Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Oso, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Though the Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu said the Command has not been briefed about any crisis in the area, the chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area Timothy Nwachi and the chairman of Edda Local Government Area Chima Ekumankama confirmed the renewed hostilities.
Nwachi explained that the state government had 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 the government’s decision.
Our correspondent gathered that many houses and other properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the renewed hostilities.
The two neighbouring communities have been at war for decades over land matters with many lives lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
The renewed hostilities have led to people from the Edda local government taking a detour through Afikpo town for fear of being attacked on the Amasiri road.
Our correspondent gathered that normalcy had returned to the community but people were seen in groups especially women discussing the tragedy that had befallen them.
READ ALSO:Court tells Oyo monarch, others to answer murder, land grabbing charges
The Chairman, Edda Local Government Area noted that security operatives have been deployed to restore normalcy.
He pointed out that he had visited the area to reassure the people of the government’s commitment to 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.”
