Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
At least four persons have been killed in renewed boundary dispute between Ogwor community in Ishiagu and Umuobor Community in Akaeze both in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The three persons killed were said to be part of a contingent that entered the disputed land to harvest yams on Wednesday while a woman was killed on Monday.
Background
The two communities have been having a dispute over a fertile piece of land known as Elueke lands for many decades.
The dispute had been adjudicated up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria with Umuobor being declared the rightful owners of the land by the courts.
However, successive state governments have refused to enforce the supreme Court ruling on the disputed land.
Despite the 1991 ruling, the dispute has persisted with many lives lost as both sides periodically carry out attacks and repirsal attacks against each other.
The crisis intensified late last year with many people on both sides killed forcing the state government to declare the disputed land a buffer zone.
It also set up a committee to mediate and find lasting solutions to the dispute.
How the four were killed
Despite placing embargo on residents from entering the disputed lands, the killings have continued.
Reports say a woman was killed in the land on Monday. The woman was said to be from Okwue, another community not involved in the dispute.
She was however allegedly working on the disputed land in company of persons from Ogwor when they were allegedly attacked by gunmen believed to be from Umuobor.
On Wednesday, three persons from Umuobor were also killed in what is believed to be a reprisal for the Monday attack.
A source from Umuobor lamented that the residents of the community have been hard hit with severe hunger due to the ban on entering the land and when they could no longer endure it, entered the land to harvest yams.
He said that as they were harvesting the yam, they were attacked by gunmen suspected to be fighters from Ogwor.
“They shot three persons dead while two others have not been found,” the source who pleaded not to be named said.
Government officials speak
Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Chinasa Okorie, confirmed the killings.
He desescribed the deaths as unfortunate and pleaded with the community to remain peacefully and not to escalate the matter.
He also advised all parties in the matter to desist from entering the disputed land until the matter is amicable settled by the state government.
“I am aware of the killings. They told me of the killings and I am aware of it. I was even there today to address them and urge them to keep the peace, maintain peace. We cannot, because of the killings, try to aggravate the situation.
“That is the predicament. Are they supposed to be there at that particular time? But you know you cannot start blaming when life is lost. So, that is the problem.
“Ordinarily, the governor has said that nobody should enter there and that is not to say that they are not aware of it. But even the people who came to kill them, are equally aware that the governor said nobody should enter there.
“So the two wrongs don’t make a right. That other people entered (the land) does not give other people the privilege to come and kill (them). That is the situation.
“And we have been sounding it, there and then, that the executive order remains. And that there are consequences for trying to violate it,” he said.
Chairman of the Council, Emmanuel Ajah, condemned both communities for flouting the directives of government.
“The government has declared it a buffer zone now. If it is a buffer zone and you go there, you are on your own. So, if government declared it is a buffer zone and you go there, and you definitely know the governor’s directive and still go there, you are on your own.
“The governor set a committee.The committee are working seriously. So, if you go there and something happens, then you don’t need to complain,” he said.
Police react
Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the killing of the woman in the area on Monday.
He appealed to the people to obey the directives of government for people to stay away from the disputed land.
“The incident about the woman happened on the 17th. That is the one we have information on. And we are also already investigating, we have deployed people to that area.
“And we are still using this opportunity to tell the stakeholders involved to sheath their swords and recognise the state government’s efforts in bringing lasting solutions.
“I think there is this arrangement of meetings happening, and everybody was asked to stay clear of the disputed area, pending when the government initiates its intervention in that matter,” he said.
