Ebonyi State: Two lives lost in Ishiagu over boundary dispute

Renewed hostility between Ogwo in Ishiagu Community and their neighbours in Akaeze, both in Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State have claimed two lives.

Ishiagu and Akaeze Communities have been embroiled in decades of boundary disputes that have claimed hundreds of lives from both sides.

Reacting to the latest incident, the LGA Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Aja, condemned the killing and vowed to unmask the perpetrators.

Aja gave the assurance in a statement issued in Abakiliki and made available to newsmen on Sunday.

He gave assurance that the killers must be fished out and prosecuted.

According to him, no one involved in perpetrating evil in the council or killing human beings in the area would go unpunished.

The council boss charged the security agencies to beef up security in the area, especially around the flash points to avoid reprisal attacks.

“I strongly condemn the gruesome murder of two indigenes of Ogwor Community in Ishiagu by people suspected to be from Umobor Community in Akaeze.

“This is the effect of a land dispute between the two communities, which has lasted for decades, and my administration has done its best to handle the issue since we came on board.

“A committee I constituted has mediated on it and came up with a resolution that the said land shall be parcellated this November; a solution adopted by the stakeholders of the two communities, but to my surprise, this evil act came up.

“As of this morning, I have notified all relevant authorities, both in government and in the military; and I visited the scene of the incident, alongside the Divisional Police Officer of Ivo Division, to express our condolences to the victims’ families.

“We are committed to fostering a peaceful atmosphere in the warring communities and I used the visit to appeal to the Ogwor Community in Ebonyi State not to seek revenge for the killings but to trust in my ability to address the security challenges.

“I also communicated the same message to the Umobor Community to help prevent further escalation that may lead to more casualties.

“Furthermore, I pledge to apprehend the unscrupulous individuals responsible for this heinous act; as no killer will go unpunished,” Aja stated.

He called on the feuding communities to sheath their swords and maintain calm as the report of the standing committee would be implemented to address the long-standing boundary dispute.

“My administration will always rise to the occasion when faced with insecurity, and we will not relent in our commitment to tackling security challenges with the resources at our disposal.

“I promise never to betray this trust. We are equal to the situation, and the issue must be given a lasting solution,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident, saying that the command had yet to identify the perpetrators.

“Yes, we have received a report of the killing of two indigenes of Ogwo Community in Ishiagu.

“The killing took place at a farm settlement, called Ayaragu Ogwo, which belongs to Ogwo Community.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the motive behind the killing and bring perpetrators to justice,” Ukandu said.