No fewer than six people, including a pregnant woman, have been killed and several homes destroyed in a renewed outbreak of violence over a longstanding land dispute in Ebonyi State.
The land tussle was said to be between the Ndukwe community in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Oso, Edda Local Government Area, of the state.
The renewed hostilities reportedly resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira, deepening a conflict that has plagued the neighboring communities for decades.
News360 Info reports that the dispute has previously claimed numerous lives and caused extensive property damage estimated in billions of naira.
Fear of further violence has reportedly prompted residents of Edda to avoid the Amasiri road, opting instead to travel through Afikpo town to ensure their safety.
Chairman of Edda LGA, Chima Ekumankama, confirmed the renewed violence, saying that security operatives had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further escalation.
I can assure you that normalcy and peace have returned to the area. I personally visited and witnessed the level of destruction. As we speak, there are sufficient security personnel on the ground to prevent any further violence,” Ekumankama stated.
In the same vein, Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Timothy Nwachi, confirmed that the state government had stationed security forces in the buffer zone between the communities to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace.
Nwachi described the renewed violence as unfortunate, appealing to residents of Amasiri to remain calm while the government works towards a lasting resolution to the land dispute.
