50 Kidnapped, 300 Others Injured In Anambra Communal Fight

About 50 persons were reportedly abducted while over 300 farmers sustained various degrees of bullets and machete during a bloody communal clash between Omor and Umunbo villages in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Both communities had been in war over some pieces of land.

It was gathered that the dispute, which started during the last dry season, was initially stopped before it snowballed into major crises.

The current misunderstanding, it was learnt, was allegedly triggered by suspected farmers who instigated others to seek vengeance.

A resident of the area, who preferred anonymity, said a breach of the agreement reached between the two monarchs of the two communities sometime last year was exploited.

“Some Umumbo farmers were the first to launch an attack on Omar farmers.

“Following a distress call from a traditional ruler simply known as, Igwe Calidon (Ezeaniukwu kingdom), some persons were apprehended.

“Some considerable number of houses, shops and rice mills belonging to Umumbo community were torched in the heat of the clash in Omor and environs.

“People ran away from their houses for fear of being killed as both communities pushed toward each other in a severe confrontational manner,” he added.

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It was further learnt as the time police were drafted to the area, no fewer than 50 persons were missing as a result of the revenge mission.
Anambra Speaker, Uche Okafor, accompanied by heavily loaded military and mobile police officers intervened to put an end to the stormy situation.

Okafor, a native of Ifite-Ogwari, is the representative of Ayamelum in the Assembly.