A pregnant woman and five other victims have been killed and several homes destroyed in a renewed outbreak of violence over a longstanding land dispute in Ebonyi State.
The land tussle is 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 resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira, deepening a conflict that has plagued the two neighboring communities for decades.
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 Local Government Area, Chima Ekumankama, confirmed the renewed violence, saying that security operatives have been deployed to restore peace and prevent further escalation of the violence.
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“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 Local Government Area, Timothy Nwachi, confirmed that the state government has 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 state government works towards a lasting resolution to the land dispute.
