Residents of Aguonwenkeya Ezza Iyonu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to facilitate their return and reintegration into their ancestral homes after nearly two decades of displacement.
The community said it has remained displaced since the 2008 Ezza–Ezillo communal crisis, which forced residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring areas.
The appeal was contained in a letter dated March 9, 2026, written by the community’s solicitor, Sampson Ekigbo, on behalf of representatives of the displaced residents.
Addressed to the governor, the letter urged the Ebonyi State government to urgently intervene in what it described as the prolonged displacement of the community for more than 18 years.
According to the petition, Aguonwenkeya Ezza Iyonu Community originally settled on a parcel of land known as Mgba Abazi, located between the Abam and Abazi streams in Ishielu.
The petition stated that the land was historically granted to Ezza settlers by the Iyionu community several decades ago after Ezza warriors were invited to defend the area from external attackers.
Following the successful defence of the community, Iyionu elders reportedly permitted the warriors to settle permanently on the land.
The arrangement, the petition said, was initially sealed through traditional oaths and later formalised in a written deed dated May 2, 1967, granting the Ezza settlers the right to live, farm and develop the land jointly with their hosts.
Over the years, the community reportedly grew with the establishment of social and religious institutions, including St. Anastasia Catholic Church, Assemblies of God Church, Methodist Church, Anglican Church, as well as local markets such as Nweke Ndegu Market and Nwankwo Market.
However, the petition noted that the community was violently displaced during the 2008 Ezza–Ezillo crisis.
“Aguonwenkeya Ezza Iyonu became a victim of circumstance because they are of Ezza extraction. Armed attackers invaded the community with sophisticated weapons and killed several residents,” Ekigbo stated.
He listed some of the victims as Sunday Martin, Chukwuma Nwali, Sunday Nwankwo, Nwafor Chukwu and Nwali Ngwuta.
According to the petition, the attacks forced residents to flee to neighbouring communities such as Azuinyaba and Ogbagu Ezza Iyonu, where many of them have remained since the conflict.
The lawyer further alleged that after the community was abandoned, properties including vehicles, motorcycles, cassava grinding machines and livestock were looted.
He also claimed that parts of the deserted settlement were later converted into mining and quarrying sites, leading to environmental degradation.
The excavation activities, the petition alleged, caused structural damage to several houses and left portions of the community submerged.
Ekigbo said the displaced residents had written several petitions to previous administrations seeking intervention but had yet to receive a lasting solution.
He also alleged that a government delegation visited the disputed area on January 12, 2024, without the knowledge or participation of representatives of the Aguonwenkeya community.
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In their latest appeal, the community urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the affected area.
They also requested official recognition and inclusion of Aguonwenkeya Ezza Iyonu Community in the proposed land demarcation between Iyionu and Ezillo communities, which they believe would enable them return peacefully to their ancestral homes.
The petitioners further appealed for rehabilitation, reintegration and compensation to help displaced residents rebuild their lives after nearly two decades of displacement.
The community expressed optimism that the peace initiatives of the Nwifuru administration would help resolve the long-standing dispute and pave the way for their safe return and resettlement.
