Why Anambra Communities Are At War, With 50 Already Abducted

The imminent concern in Anambra State right now, is not the ravaging COVID-19 but a communal clash where about 50 persons have already been abducted.

Also, no fewer than 300 farmers have sustained various degrees of injuries in the communal clash which has pitted the Umumbo and Omor communities in Ayamelum local government area of Anambra State against each other.

They are at each other’s jugular because of a protracted land dispute, which started during the last dry season.

It was the decision of one party to breach the gentleman’s agreement reached between the two traditional rulers of the two communities sometime last year that ignited the latest clash.

The Eagle could now however confirm other details as alleged by the source, but following the clash, many people ran away from their houses for fear of being killed, while social life has totally been grounded.

An eye witness also claimed that many lives have been lost already but there were no confirmations as at press time.

However, a large number of houses, shops and rice mills belonging to Umumbo community had been destroyed without any clear indication the fate of the owners of those houses.

Heavily armed military and mobile policemen have however moved in to quell the bloody clash.

Also, the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Uche Okafor, who represents the constituency in the state legislature, has visited with strong security presence.

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The source described the two communities as critical to the food security programme in Anambra state and hinted on rivalry of planting areas as possible reason for the conflict.

 Unconfirmed number of people were said to have been arrested, even as those at large were being fished out by security operatives.

Obviously the state government has additional challenge on its hands, giving the resources in material and other terms that it is already piloting to checkmating the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

Communal clash is not a rarity in the community but this one appear to have brought a worrisome dimension.