Okpanku cries for help over serial attack on Uhuezeoke Village

By our reporter

Uhuezeoke Okpanku has been under heavy attack by people suspected to be land grabbers allegedly from Umuanekenta Uburu in Ohaozara local government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to source, the attackers used to launch an assault on the villagers for many years now and the crisis has lingered for decades without solution. The incident makes the villagers to live their lives in perpetual fear.

“The attack has been a recovering incidence. Hardly will a year roll by without Uhuezeoke recording an incident of attack by the land grabbers.”

Stating further, “Umuanekenta Uburu in Ohaozara local government Area of Ebonyi State and Uhuezeoke Okpanku in Aninri Local government of Enugu State are yet to settle their age long land dispute and that is the bone of contention”

He alleged that Umuanekenta and Uhuezeoke have been on each other’s throats as a result of boundary dispute between the two villages which led to the death of four people and many injured. Most recent was the deadly attack carried out by suspected assailant from Umuanekenta which left a man and young girl dead on 6th of January, 2025.

Investigation revealed that during rainy season which is the period for cultivation of crops, the two villages would fight tooth and nail for the ownership of some portions of farmland. The crisis usually ends in assaults.

Further investigation also revealed that not less than four people have been shot dead between 11 December, 2024 to 6th January, 2025. Among whom were three women and young man.

One of the pathetic incident was a girl who came to visit her grandmother on 6th January, 2025 but met her death in the hands of the assailants at Uhuezeoke.

An indegene of the community who preferred anonymity also alleged that the attackers came through Uburu road and carried out the deadly attack on 6th January, 2025. He also insinuated that the attack is not far from the land dispute “I think the attack might have been carried out by the Umuanekenta Uburu who have had a longstanding land tussle with Okpanku” he alleged.

Similar attack was carried out by same assailants between 2020 and 2021 in Amaeze Okpanku where one Ajah Dickson and Chukwu Ifeanyi were shot in their different farm locations. African Chronicles News gathered the then Executive Chairman Aninri Local government, Hon. Ezekiel Chukwu and his counterpart in Ohaozara intervened to get medical treatment for the victims.

An elderly man also revealed that several attempts have been made to settle the lingering dispute but all to no avail.

He emphasized that the people of both communities are living in fear over what might happen tomorrow. According to him, it would be imperative to invite the Ebonyi and Enugu State governments to intervene in the crisis and solve the boundary crisis.

“If this incident is not properly checked, it could endanger the age long relationship between Uburu and Okpanku. Both communities are tied with similar culture that binds them together. They are neighbours who share common boundaries and they also exchange marital vows” he said.

The same source also said between 2019, 2020 and 2021 selected people of Okpanku went to Uburu to meet with the then governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umuahi for a possible solution to the land dispute between his community and Okpanku. Though, he promised to set up a committee comprising men of good will from both communities to come up with a solution to the problems. The result of the meeting led the people of Okpanku to brief then Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. He also promised to look into the land crisis with a solution. Since then, not much was heard from both governors as warring communities continue to be a threat to each other. Unwanting killing, maiming and destruction of properties by suspected aggrieved members of the communities have been the order of the day.

The government of Enugu State and Ebonyi State should come together to proffer everlasting solution to resolving the crisis before it escales to full blown communal crisis.

If this is not done, the crisis may result to food insecurity within the localities as the resident are known for agrarian farming.