One person was reportedly killed on Wednesday in a clash between Urum and Achalla communities in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The feud, it was gathered, was over a piece land.
The Wednesday conflict came barely a week after the Commissioner of Police in the state, John Abang, engaged the leaders of the two communities at the command’s headquarters in Amawbia for peace talks.
Our correspondent gathered that the two communities had had a series of disagreements over ownership of a piece of land where the duo had boundary. A native, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said,
“The people of Urum were invaded by Achalla youths this afternoon, killing and maiming women and children that were tending to their farms.
Many people were chased out of their farms and many others from other villages in Urum have different reports of harassment from Achalla youths.”
He said the matter had been reported to different persons and authorities in the state to no avail.
“This afternoon, Achalla people invaded our farmlands, clearing them with bulldozers. Attempts made by our youths to resist them may result in a war. One person died. He died as hero not like a coward.
Residents of Umuife village, Urum have deserted their homes and fled to different places for safety. Some of them camped at Eke Market, Isuaniocha, trying to figure out their next move,” he added.
The native expressed surprise that as the crisis raged, no police presence was seen in the area.
The state Commissioner of Police, John Abang, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. Abang said,
“On my own, I had before the sallah festival invited their leaders to my office and asked them to maintain peace pending the outcome of the government’s committee on the disputed land.
I was surprised this afternoon to get a report that they were fighting one another over the land. I have deployed my men there to restore normalcy. For now, I can’t tell you the number of casualties until I get a full report.”
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