By ABIA ONYIKE
No fewer than two persons have been killed in a fresh land dispute which erupted between the people of Abaomege and Ishinkwo communitis, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday.
A community source, who pleaded anonymity, said the two persons where returning from fishing expedition when they were shot dead by the communal warlords.
According to him, the situation has thrown the natives of the two communities into panic, adding that shops in Abaomege, which used to be a beehive of activities have been shut down since Tuesday morning.
The source said, “My brother, what we saw here in the morning of today (Tuesday) was unexpected, even though the land dispute between Abaomege and Ishinkwo communitis has been there.
“Two people were killed by the communal warriors this morning and a policeman was also shot but, I learnt he didn’t die. It’s terrible here. People are running Helter skelter here with shops in the popular Abaomege axis shut down since morning. There is fear everywhere and the villages are in a panicky situation.”
The Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the incident, on Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the two vitamins were confirmed dead on rushing them to the hospital, while the affected policeman was receiving treatment in an undisclosed medical facility, in the state.
She said, “Three persons including a Police officer, who was returning home after the close of work, were shot at the Abaomege-Oshinkwo communal crisis area by the Oshinkwo warriors.
“The victims were rushed to the hospital. Two of the victims (civilians) were confirmed dead, but the policeman is responding to treatment. Intensive manhunt is on for the fleeing suspects.”
Daily Sentinel reports that the land dispute between the two communities has been on for many years now.
The Director of Legal Services, Ishinkwo Autonomous Community, Mr Innocent Elum, in 2022, revealed the communal crisis dated back to as far back as 1902. The last crisis that ensued between the two communities claimed no fewer than seven lives, in 2022.
