Enugu Residents In Panic, Flee From Home Few Days To Christmas Over Communal War
The latest conflict between the two communities began in August, resulting in the loss of six lives and significant property damage.
Tension is running high in the Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu State, particularly in the Ikolo community, as residents fear another communal war with the neighbouring Aku community.
The latest conflict between the two communities began in August, resulting in the loss of six lives and significant property damage.
SaharaReporters learnt that some of the residents in Ikolo are now fleeing from their homes with few days to Christmas, over fears of an impending attack from the other warring area.
According to sources who spoke with SaharaReporters, the Ikolo community has been living in constant fear of another attack from the Aku community.
Two main reasons are cited for this fear: a murder case against an Ikolo resident, Odeke Ejiofor, and the alleged disappearance of three Aku residents in Ikolo.
Community leaders from Ikolo claim that the Aku community has been creating uncomfortable conditions for them, especially during festivities.
They also accused the police of taking a compromising stance in the crisis.
SaharaReporters learnt that the situation is further complicated by the government’s delay in demarcating the boundary between the two communities.
Chief Agada Paul, a community leader in Ikolo, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Friday, blamed the state government’s inaction for the current tension.
He noted that the Deputy Governor had visited the area twice, but no progress had been made.
He said that some are still in their homes but living in fear, while others are leaving their homes and relocating.
“Some hadn’t returned since the August attacks. Now they are trying to come home but the tension is building again. All those whose houses and properties were burnt have been squatting in other people’s houses. So many other people have left their houses because of the tension. Some of them are staying with their relations while some have relocated to the state capital.”
He blamed the current tension on the inability of the state government to demarcate the boundary of the two communities.
“The major problem is because the state hasn’t marked the boundary. Since this problem, the government hasn’t put the boundary, the Deputy Governor has visited the area twice but nothing had been done. We don’t know what is delaying the boundary demarcation because we have continued asking them, going to their office.
“They have been constantly telling us that they will come today, they will come tomorrow. It is not something we can do by ourselves. The matter is with the boundary commission under the Deputy Governor’s office.
“The tension building now is real because this festive period and so many persons will come home. And you know we have so many corpses in the mortuary as we are talking now. We have two corpses on our side and four from the other side. And any little thing can ignite demonstration.
“We have advised the government to station military security post at that location till today nothing is happening. They started to build security post about two months ago it was stopped. The security post was being constructed by the local government but at a point one Prof Osi Okeanya went their and stopped the work. Till now nothing is happening there. It is a really tense situation and right now Igbo-Etiti is organising Unity Cup novelty matches.
“Now the Aku community has withdrawn from participating citing that the corpses of their sons are in the mortuary and they cannot come to continue to participate and government has refused to come to do boundary. So with what is happening know it is really a tensed situation. All the people in the mortuary were killed in August. That matter was with the State Government.”
With the festive period approaching, the Ikolo community is on high alert, fearing another crisis.
The residents have also advised the government to station a military security post in the area, but so far, nothing has been done.
