Four villagers have been killed in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as boundary dispute between two communities turned bloody.
The conflict is between the Umuobor and Ogwor villages, who have been enmeshed in a long-standing face-off over a piece of land known as “Elueke”.
According to a community member who spoke to newsmen on Friday, tensions had been simmering for months before the recent clash turned deadly.
Residents of both villages are now living in fear of further attacks, while community leaders and security agencies are working to restore peace and find a lasting solution to the dispute.
The coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Chinasa Okorie also confirmed the incident in Abakaliki, describing the killing 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,” he said.
Okorie pleaded with the communities to remain calm and peaceful and avoid any act capable of escalating the dispute.
“The government has declared it a buffer zone, so nobody is allowed to enter the land,” the coordinator said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the command in Ebonyi, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command was only aware of the killing of a woman on Feb. 17.
“We know about the incident involving the killing of a woman on Feb. 17.
“That is the one we have the information, the command is investigating the matter.
“Officers and men have been deployed to the area,” Ukandu said.
