Renewed violence between the Ogwo community in Ishiagu and Akaeze, both located in the Ivo LGA of Ebonyi, has resulted in the deaths of two individuals.
For decades, the Ishiagu and Akaeze communities have been entangled in boundary disputes that have claimed hundreds of lives on both sides.
In response to the recent escalation of violence, LGA chairman Emmanuel Aja condemned the killings and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Aja made this promise in a statement released on Sunday, asserting that anyone involved in acts of violence or murder within the council would face severe consequences.
He also urged security agencies to strengthen their presence in the area, particularly around the hotspots, to prevent further reprisals.
“I strongly condemn the gruesome murder of two indigenes of the Ogwor community in Ishiagu by people suspected to be from the Umobor community in Akaeze,” stated the council chair. “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.”
The politician disclosed tha a committee had come up with a resolution that the contentious 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.”
He called on the feuding communities to sheath their swords and maintain calm as the standing committee report would be implemented to address the long-standing boundary dispute.
The police spokesman in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, said, “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 the Ogwo Community.
“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the motive behind the killing and bring perpetrators to justice.”
