A recent communal clash in Ebonyi State reportedly resulted in the destruction of no less than 50 houses by suspected hoodlums.
According to reports, the event, which happened in the Ebonyi Local Government Area’s Ndiefi-Ishieke village, caused intense anguish and panic among many innocent members of the community.
According to reports, the over 50 thugs entered 43 compounds on a community area, shot some locals, and demolished their homes.
It was discovered that 300 households were affected and 11 people were hurt in the neighbourhood.
One inhabitant of Ndiefi-Ishieke village, Dr. Nwoba Benjamin, confirmed the occurrence and condemned the onslaught the hired thugs unleashed on the residents, alleging that the reason for the incident was the family of Okuku-Ede of Igbojima kindred was claiming a common piece of land.
Sources suggest that the locals became agitated as a result of the claim.
They claimed that the afflicted village’s residents collectively owned the community land, not just one family.
Benjamin said that several influential members of the Igbojima Kindred were responsible for the attack on the defenceless peasants, who contended that the common land was not intended for a single family because many residents of the village had over the years received an equitable share of it.
He further alleged that the thugs were led by Ebonyi LGA Chairman, Chinedu Uburu, as none of the hoodlums have been arrested so far.
According to him, “The thugs from nowhere, on Monday, unleashed mayhem on the villagers that opposed the ownership of the land to a particular family.
“The thugs were hired and were shooting sporadically. They were led by some members of Igbogima kindred. About 100 buildings were destroyed. There’s a communal land in the village, which the community usually share to indigenes of the village, when you grow and get married.
“Okuku-Ede family claimed that it was their land. One of them died and was buried in the Community land even as the community refused such development. At about 3a.m of the fateful day, the thugs started destroying people’s properties. I was reliably informed that SWAT saw them and didn’t do anything.”
The Ebonyi Council Chairman, Mr. Uburu, responded by denying any involvement in such an act and asserting that such accusations were made to damage his reputation.
“Nobody has officially reported to me that there was any destruction in the affected community. Am hearing it for the first time. The day of the burial, the police were on ground. If anybody is laying accusing fingers on me, it’s just a cheap blackmail. Surely, I will visit the place and alert some security agencies to swing into action.”
Eze Sunday, the head of Ndiefi-Ishieke Village, also expressed his sorrow and urged the state government to play a fatherly role by fostering harmony, peace, and oneness among the residents rather than siding with any one clan in the affected area.
“We want the state government to know what is happening. They should not victimise a particular clan but carry everybody along. They should allow those displaced to come back to their compounds.
“The compound of the family that said the communal land belonged to them is from Igbojima. The hoodlums should be brought to book. Our in-coming Governor should assist us in maintaining peace in the village. He should not look at the kindred dichotomy,” he said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the command was yet to receive an official report on the matter.
