Two persons missing, others injured after Anambra communal clash Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/two-persons-missing-others-injured-after-anambra-communal-clash/

By Vincent Ujumadu – Awka Two persons from Achalla in Awka North local government area of Anambra State are still missing following the recent communal clash between Achalla and their neighbouring Urum.  During the clash, some houses were burnt, while few others received machete cuts. President General of Achalla, Mr. Boniface Chigbo yesterday gave the names of the missing persons as Obinna Okafor and Uchenna Okeke, while those who returned with machete cuts were Ezeoba Ejike and Chukwuma Egbeigwe, adding that they were kidnapped by their neighbours in a commando-style. According to him, the suspicion of Achalla people was that the missing persons were being held hostage by their neighbours. He also claimed that no indigene of Urum was being held hostage as alleged. READ ALSO: 10 Anambra communities lament as herdsmen destroy farmlands Chigbo insisted that the only remedy for peace between the two communities was for Urum to adhere to the treaty signed several years ago regarding the portion of land in dispute, which made their neighbours be paying dues to them annually since 1920 when the said land was given to Urum on lease. He said trouble began when they stopped payment of the dues in 1988, which made some of their youths to start claiming ownership of the land. Chigbo said that in a manner that surprised everybody, Urum people started surveying the land and placing beacons, whereupon Achalla once again contested their claim. He said: ” The cause of recent escalation was that the Awka North local government chairman expressed intent to meet with the two communities with a view to a peaceful resolution of the imbroglio between them and a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, the 23rd of June. “Surprisingly, on Sunday the 21st of June Achalla community was besieged by a police detachment that came to make arrests in connection with the land tussle. “The chairman was made aware of this development and he promised to reach the police to stop arrests and allow him to wade into the issue. “He also promised to secure the release of those already arrested. By Monday the 22nd of June, Urum community blocked the expressway coming from Awka to Achalla and in the process apprehended an Achalla indigene who was returning from Awka in company with three others. “A struggle ensued and he was summarily shot and killed. His name is Udeme Udobi. The others escaped with gunshot wounds to Achalla and relayed the incident to the community. This clearly incensed the community. “To the best of my knowledge, no Urum person is being held hostage in Achalla. “Two of the kidnapped persons have returned with machete cuts, while the last two have not been seen to date.” READ ALSO: Anambra sets up mobile courts against abuse of face masks The state police command, however, said yesterday that it was not aware of any missing Achalla indigene in the crisis The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mohammed Haruna, however, said that investigation was still ongoing on the matter He said that security operatives had been deployed to the warring communities to quell the tension in the area He declined to say if there had been any arrest on both sides, stating that everything would be laid bare to the public after the command’s investigations vanguard Kindly Share This Story:FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsAppPinterestShare Related Land Dispute: Two persons missing, others injured in Anambra communal clash June 26, 2020 Communal clash claims one life in Anambra  May 27, 2020 How land disputes consume lives, destroy properties in Igboland June 24, 2020 All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from VANGUARD NEWS. Download Vanguard News App.   Technical Feedback: whatsapp 08023469027   READ our Privacy-policy and cookie policy. READ ALSO: N700million fraud: Court adjourns case against Ize-Iyamu, four others Vanguard PROMOTED APC crisis: Oshiomhole and his co-travellers are committing treason — Group Troops foil attempted kidnap of passengers on Abuja-Kaduna highway If You Want To Soften Your Wrinkles, Do This Today (It's Genius) InnoGialuron A genius from Nigeria found a way to get rid of parasites forever! Read! Detox PDP ticket: Step down, face N2b lawsuit, groups threaten Imansuagbon Arthritis or Joint Pain? Doctor Says Do This First Thing Each Morning Motion free Scores of bandits killed in air raid on Doumbourou Forest, Zamfara — DHQ - LAWAL SHERIFAT View all posts by Lawal Sherifat → PREVIOUS POST Troops foil attempted kidnap of passengers on Abuja-Kaduna highway Disclaimer Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/two-persons-missing-others-injured-after-anambra-communal-clash/