21, February 2025
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Four people have been killed in a resurgence of violence over a boundary dispute between Ogwor and Umuobor villages in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The conflict, centered around a piece of land known as “Elueke,” has been a longstanding source of tension between the two communities.
In January, the Ebonyi State government declared the land a “buffer zone” and ordered both sides to stay away.
However, despite the directive, violence erupted again this week.
Chinasa Okorie, Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, confirmed the killings to reporters in Abakaliki on Thursday, describing the attack as “wicked.”
“Among the four persons killed, three 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,” Okorie said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okorie urged the communities to maintain peace and refrain from actions that could escalate the dispute.
“The government has designated the area as a buffer zone, and no one is permitted to enter the land,” the coordinator stated.
However, Joshua Ukandu, the state police command’s spokesman, said the command was only aware of the killing of a woman on February 17.
“We are aware of the incident involving the killing of a woman on February 17.
“That is the case we have information on. The command is investigating the matter
“Officers have been deployed to the area,” Ukandu said.
The conflict between the Ogwor and Umuobor communities in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is rooted in a prolonged boundary dispute over a piece of land known as “Elueke.”
This dispute has historically fuelled tension and violence between the two villages, as both sides lay claim to the land for agricultural and cultural reasons.
In an effort to resolve the conflict, the Ebonyi State government declared the disputed area a “buffer zone” in January, prohibiting both communities from accessing the land. This measure was intended to ease tensions and prevent clashes.
However, the recent violence suggests that the directive has not been fully respected, possibly due to economic pressures, as people still attempt to farm or harvest on the contested land.
This is evident from reports that three of the victims were allegedly killed while trying to harvest yams.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has deployed officers to the area and launched an investigation.
(www.naija247news.com)
