A long-standing land dispute between Ndukwe community in Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Osso Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has flared up once more, leaving at least four people dead and several properties destroyed.
The renewed violence, which broke out over the weekend, is the latest in a decades-old conflict that has repeatedly plagued the two neighboring communities.
The resurgence has triggered widespread fear and disruption, with residents of Osso Edda now avoiding the Amasiri road a once commonly used route out of fear of ambushes and retaliatory attacks. Many now travel through Afikpo town as a safer alternative.
A source from Okporojo community, speaking with The Nation, alleged that the victims of the attack were from their village and accused assailants from Amasiri of orchestrating the deadly assault. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the identities of the attackers at the time of this report.
Despite previous efforts by successive administrations to mediate the land dispute including the issuance of a white paper following recommendations from a government-commissioned committee the conflict remains unresolved. The failure to implement these recommendations is believed to have contributed to the recurring violence.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Mr. Chima Ekumankama, disclosed that four people were killed during the recent attack on Okporojo Idima in Osso Edda. He noted that security personnel had since been deployed to the area to prevent further clashes.
“I can assure you that normalcy and peace have returned to the area. I personally visited the scene and witnessed the level of destruction. As we speak, there is a sufficient security presence to ensure the situation does not escalate further,” Ekumankama said.
He also commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for his prompt intervention and rapid deployment of security agents to the troubled communities.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, confirmed that law enforcement had been stationed in a designated buffer zone to prevent more violence. He described the recent outbreak as “regrettable” and called on residents of Amasiri to remain calm and allow the government to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said he had not yet received an official briefing on the incident.
As tensions remain high in both communities, there are growing calls for the state government to revisit past resolutions and enforce long-overdue policy measures to bring lasting peace to the region.
