A tragic incident has shaken the Oso Edda community in Ebonyi State, as a middle-aged farmer, Dick Nnachi, was reportedly beheaded by suspected armed men while working on his farm last Thursday.
The gruesome attack has left the community in shock, with Nnachi’s severed head yet to be recovered.
Chima Ekumankama, the chairman of Edda Local Government Area, confirmed the incident during the weekend’s New Yam Festival held at Nguzu Edda Community Primary School.
A minute of silence was observed in honor of the slain farmer. Clearly distressed, Ekumankama condemned the ongoing violence in the area, warning that he might resign from his position if the killings persist.
“Sometimes I just feel like resigning to go back to my business because each time I see the blood of an Edda man spilled, it pains me deeply and makes me very uncomfortable”, Ekumankama lamented.
Addressing Governor Francis Nwifuru, who was represented at the event by Speaker of the State House of Assembly Moses Odunwa, he made a passionate plea for urgent intervention.
“If it is possible, Your Excellency, let us have the army, police, and every other security apparatus in Oso Edda so that we can protect our people. We don’t want to lose any more lives to this crisis between Oso Edda and Amasiri.”
Ekumankama further expressed his frustration with the persistent bloodshed, noting that annual prayers held to cleanse the land have been continually undermined by these violent acts. He appealed for immediate action to prevent further tragedies.
Police spokesperson SP Joshua Ukandu confirmed the incident, stating that officers have been deployed to the disputed area to maintain order.
He urged residents to avoid the buffer zone established by security agencies to prevent additional casualties.
The conflict between Oso Edda and Amasiri, rooted in a long-standing land dispute, has claimed numerous lives over the years. Successive administrations have struggled to resolve the violence, which continues to cast a shadow over the lives of the people in the region.