One dies in Enugu-Anambra communities boarder clash

Information coming in from Ezeagu local government of Enugu State has it that about 20 families have been displaced from their homes following a boundary dispute between Ibite Olo community and neigbouring Anambra State community; Awba Ofemmili of Awka North local government area.

Sources told our reporter that the two communities on April 17, 18, and 19 respectively engaged in civil clashes over a disputed farm land which led to the death of one and destruction of property and displacement of about 20 households in Ibite Olo.

Mrs. Nkechi Eneh, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), while donating some relief materials on Wednesday, said that the state government was miffed at the extent of destruction.

Some of the items donated include bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil, and confectionery, wrappers, roofing sheets and ceiling boards, among others

Eneh said that the Deputy Gov., Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, had shortly after the incident drawn the attention of SEMA to the clashes.

She said that the agency, at the instance of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, embarked on on-the-spot assessment of the destruction.

The executive secretary said that the agency, after its assessment, discovered that no fewer than 15 houses in the community were burnt, while one life was lost.

“The governor was touched and directed that this donation be made to cushion the effects of the loss. These items, however, could not be commensurate with your loss,” she said.

Eneh said that the state government would take proactive steps to ensure that such incident did not occur again.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Government, Mr Chukwudi Ezinwa, had said that the residents were surprised by the encroachment by their neighbours. Ezinwa said that farmers in Ibite Olo, had prior to the incursion, been using the disputed area without any form of problem from the people of Awba Ofemmili.

He said that farmers in the area recorded huge loses worth millions of naira.

“The state government has decided that this will not happen again,” Ezinwa said. One of the victims, Mr. Monday Nweke, while recounting their ordeal during the clashes, said that the incident happened while they were on their farms.

Nweke said that he received a machete cut from the invaders and was, consequently, admitted in an undisclosed hospital.

“All our farm produce, including bags of rice, beans, yams and processing machines, were all burnt,” he said.

Nweke said that they were appreciative of the intervention of the state government in donating the relief materials.