Ebonyi/Benue boundary dispute claims 7 in renewed violence
Seven persons from Ndiagu Orie, Umuguduakpu Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi state were yesterday murdered by unknown gunmen believed to have come from neighbouring Agila community in Adọ Local Government Area of Benue state.
A source from the community, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, alleged that the attack by Agila people took place about 1:00pm.
The source said the attackers emerged from the buffer zone wearing military camouflage, making the people think they were military men as some military personnel had been to the community recently in search of a missing naval officer who had gone missing in the area.
He added that Ngbo community members who saw the attackers felt they were part of the military team that had earlier visited the community not knowing they were marauders from Agila.
When contacted, the Ebonyi state Commissioner of Police, Awosola Awotinde confirmed the killing of the said seven persons.
Our correspondent recalls that the Ngbo Community has been enmeshed in a decade long inter- communal dispute with their neighbouring Agila community in Adọ Local Government Area of Benue state.
Awotinde said the police have sent a reinforcement of mobile police personnel to the troubled area to restore law and order.
Although, there were conflicting reports on the actual number of persons killed, the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah said nine persons were killed.
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He accused the people of Agila of flouting the peace pact reached between the two communities and also called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to hasten the boundary demarcation between the warring communities to forestall further loss of lives and properties.
“I received a call from the Coordinator of Ngbo West Development Centre, Stephen Ogenyi, informing me of the brutal attack from Agila people, which left many of the natives, numbering nine dead with many houses burnt, barn of yams set on fire and people displaced.
“It is a thing of worry and shock that in spite of the efforts put so far, this magnitude of injury will be done to our people. We feel very bad about it. We condemn the killings.
“We use this opportunity to call on the federal government and specifically, call on the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to hasten up and do the needful.
“We have attended several meetings in Abuja at the instance of the NBC. We have attended several other peace meetings in Enugu, Benue and Ebonyi states. All these meetings were geared toward restoring lasting peace.
“We have entered into several peace pacts. But, unfortunately, the peace agreements we have reached which we believed will give us peace have been breached by our neighbours from Agila. This is very unfortunate,” he stated.
