No fewer than two persons were killed on Tuesday in a fresh land dispute which erupted between the people of Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the two persons were returning from a fishing expedition when they were shot dead.
According to him, the situation threw residents of the two communities into panic, adding that shops in Abaomege were quickly shut.
The source said, “What we saw here today (Tuesday) was unexpected, though the land dispute between Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities 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 with shops in the popular Abaomege area shut since morning. There is fear everywhere and the villages are in a panic situation.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the development, saying the two victims were confirmed dead at the hospital, while the affected policeman was receiving treatment in an undisclosed medical facility in the state.
She said, “Three persons, including a policeman, 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. An intensive manhunt is on for the fleeing suspects.”
PUNCH Metro reported that the land dispute between the two communities has been on for many years now.
The Director of Legal Services, Ishinkwo Autonomous Community, Innocent Elum, in 2022 revealed that the communal crisis dated back to 1902.
The last crisis that ensued between the two communities claimed no fewer than seven lives in 2022.
