Gunmen Invade Anambra community, Destroying Property Worth N100m, CP Invites Communities For Meeting Tuesday

                                           

The over fifty years land dispute between Uruoji village Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area and Mgbuke village, Umunnachi , Dunukofia Local Government Area in Anambra State took a dangerous dimension in the wee hours of yesterday when about 50 gunmen sacked the people of  Mgbuke village and  destroyed properties worth over N100 million.

The gunmen according to close sources shot sporadically in the air for over four hours and destroyed fence blocks, buildings and properties as the residents of the area scampered for safety. About three policemen on duty at a nearby police post at Umunnachi also ran for cover while the shooting lasted.

Conducting reporters at the scene of the incident yesterday, the former Transition Council Chairman, Dunukofia Local Government, Onochie Okagbue and the Traditional Prime Minister of Umunnachi Community,  Onowu Richard Chukwudebelu said  the  dispute over the land started in 1942 until the Umunnachi community won the case on 24^th June 2012 after terminating at the supreme court.

They noted that the false claimants to the land had also invaded the area last year and destroyed their properties including over 1000 meter length of  block cement wall in which three people were arrested and charged to court only for the invaders to strike again last night.

“They came, scared away the inhabitants and fired gunshots for over 4 hours and nobody slept that night. They destroyed houses and properties and we have complained to the local government chairman, the Divisional Police Officers in Ogidi and Dunukofia and we are now going back to Awka for a fresh complaint because the loss is estimated at over N100milliom.

Some of the terrified villagers who spoke to newsmen on anonymity said they ran to Eziowele and Umudioka communities while the shooting and destruction lasted while some youths of the Umunachi community were spoiling for a reprisal attack.

The Cordinator, Anambra State Vigilante Group, Kenneth Osita Okonkwo who was also at the scene expressed regret over the incident most especially now that Gov. Obiano is determined to sanitize the state of all criminal elements. He said that the matter will be properly investigated while the culprits must be fished out so as to determine the source of their arms and ammunition.

Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka said that normalcy has returned to the community while the people have been advised to maintain peace. He noted that the police is on surveillance in the area and is also aware of the court judgment on the land dispute while both parties have been invited for a meeting next Tuesday.  


Another version of the story 

No fewer than 15 persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injury while about 10 houses were destroyed in the wee hours of yesterday as Ogidi and its neighbouring community, Umunachi, renewed hostility after more than a decade of ceasefire.                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                 Newsmen found out that the bone of contention is the piece of land in the demarcation portion between the warring communities which resulted in the establishment of a police post there.                       
                                                                                                                                                                              It was gathered that the presence of the police there had over the years scared any plan for a fresh attack by any one against the other until yesterday when some armed youths from Ogidi insisted on reclaiming what they termed their land from Umunachi people.                                                                                                                                                                                It was on the process that the Umunachi community reportedly put up resistance resulting in about 15 peopled being injured and 10  houses said to have been destroyed.


Among the vicctims also were tenants living in the disputed land who were running to safety when the renewed hostility started.
                         
                                                                     
               
Their properties were reportedly looted as they scampered to safety leaving them behind.
 
According to an eye witness account the police at the post could not withstand the fire power of the duo being excanged and consequently had to turn their eyes to the other side . 
       
                                                                     
However normalcy was said to have returned before daybreak but some residents who were seen counting their losses stressed the need for security to be beefed up to avoid a repeat of the hostility.                                               

Efforts made for the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka to react to the incident or the Divisional police Officer in Charge of Ogidi Police Station , Mr Sani Abubakar through the phone proved abortive .