About three persons have been reported to have
lost their lives in a communal clash among two Anambra communities, Nkwelle
Ezunaka and Osile Village in Ogbunike, Oyi local government area over disagreements
resulting from a disputed piece of land.
The communities had
engaged each other in fierce battle last week, leading to the death of the
three men, who are said to be indigenes of Nkwelle Ezunaka community.
Several persons were
also reportedly injured as a result of the clash, while security operatives are
have been drafted to the communities, and calm returned.
Our correspondent
gathered that last week’s clash was caused by the quest by one of the feuding
communities, Osile to survey the disputed land, apparently to make it ready for
use.
This it was gathered
was opposed to by people of Amuche village in Nkwelle Ezunaka leading to a
fracas that degenerated into shooting.
Immediate Past
President of Nkwelle Ezunaka Community and the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra
State chapter, Elder Chris Eluemuno who spoke to journalists during a visit to
the area said the fracas between both communities has remained a recurring one.
He recalled that both
communities have remained at loggerhead for a long time as a result of the
dispute, and the refusal of the Osile people to abide by an old court judgment
on the land.
The land dispute it was
learnt dates as far back as 1906 when an Onitsha customary Court entered a
judgment in favour of Nkwelle Ezunaka, that Nkisi River was the boundary
between Ogbunike and Nkwelle Ezunaka, as communities.
When contacted the President Osile Welfare and Development Union, Donatus
Mbanefo said there was no such judgment, and that the Umuonuora family of
Amuche Nkwelle have never been in any land dispute in any court of law with their
counterpart.
“Umuonuora
family, led by Chris Eluemuno and lately Ambrose Odia had not only
trespassed on these lands but have sold off all of the Osile Lands lying
north of the Onitsha-Enugu Express way to non-indigenes of Nkwelle Ezunaka,” he
said.
He appealed to
Anambra State Government through the State Boundary Committee to urgently carry
out comprehensive boundary demarcation between Osile Ogbunike and their
neighbours from Nkwelle to avert further bloodletting.
THISDAY reports
that calm has however returned to both communities following the drafting of
security personnel to the disputed land.
Attempts to get
reactions from the Anambra State police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Ali
Okechukwu on the matter was not successful as he was said to have been out of
office on official duties when our reporter called.
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