Anambra communal clash : Community deserted as one dies

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.”

NAUTH Nnewi records first COVID-19 case

Authorities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, have confirmed one case of the coronavirus at the hospital.

Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, disclosed this on Monday.

Igwegbe said the patient was diagnosed with the virus following a test upon getting to the hospital.

According to him, the test result was released on May 23.

He said the patient was immediately moved to one of the isolation centres in Anambra for treatment.

“The patient was quickly moved from our isolation ward to the Anambra State Treatment Centre last night for care and treatment. Specimen for test was taken the following day and sent to Irrua,” he said.

Igwegbe told reporters that a suspect was earlier taken in, but test sample was not taken before the patient died.

“That was a probable case, the patient showed some symptoms but the sample was not taken before the patient died. So we have only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in NAUTH so far,” he said.

The CMD added that all the necessary precautions were taken and all those that attended to the confirmed patient used Personal Protection Equipment. He gave an assurance that the hospital would remain vigilant.

Anambra and Delta States hold meetings to curtail movement on the Niger bridge

The governments of Anambra and Delta States are currently holding meetings which is aimed at curtailing the movement of people on the Niger bridge. Talks are being held to control the movement of of people who are defying the Presidential order restricting inter-state movements by still making use of the bridge.

Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Adinuba made this known in an interview with reporters in Onitsha on Monday. He spoke about the destruction of the barricade built by Governor Willie Obiano at the Asaba-end of the bridge which was carried out by youths of Delta State.

He further revealed that it was the destruction of the barricade that prompted the meeting where the two governments agreed to jointly curtail the human traffic on the bridge. He said,

“Top officials of both Delta and Anambra State governments have met thrice today and will meet again tomorrow or so. The meeting is to conclude arrangements on how to check the influx of people, who defy the presidential order restricting inter-state movements as part of the far-reaching measures to check the spread of COVID-19."

According to him, the meetings have been held amicably.

“Subsequent meetings will follow the same trajectory of peace and solidarity as each party is quite committed to the battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” Adinuba said.