Edda community urges Gov. Nwifuru to intervene over killings of pregnant woman, 5 others by warriors

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The people of Idima Autonomous Community in Edda LGA of Ebonyi State at the weekend urged governor Francis Nwifuru to urgently intervene over the gruesome killings of a pregnant woman and her baby and 5 others by warriors.

It was gathered that the killings was as a result of age-long land dispute between Edda community and the Ndukwe Amasiri community in Afikpo LGA.

The president general of Idima Edda Community, Nkama Okoro Agha made this known while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki on the recent attack by suspected warriors from Amasiri against the people of Okporojo, Idima community.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that valuable properties worth millions of naria were equally destroyed.

Agha recalled that one of the 6 victims of the alleged Amasiri’s attack against the Okporojo people hailed from Afikpo, and identified his name as Abagha Chukwu from Ukpa in Afikpo LGA, but was a resident of Okporojo till his untimely death.

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He equally condemned in totality the ugly act of killings and wanton destruction of valuable properties in the area, stressing that the alleged attack was not the first, and that Amasiri people invaded Okporojo and killed innocent citizens, including the abduction of farmers in their farms on 6th February 2023. 

Agha, further appealed to governor Nwifuru to urgently intervene to prevent further killings and bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to book to ensure lasting peace in the area.

He said: “We the people of Okorojo in Idima Autonomous Community in Edda LGA of Ebonyi State condemned this unfortunate attack launched by the Amasiri against our people.

“Remember that on the 6th of February 2023, the people of Amasiri invaded Okporojo and abducted our harmless people including Oko Agwu Ama, Dick Ama Oduko, and David Oko Arusi who were working and searching for their green pastures in their farms and up till date, we have not seen them returned home, we don’t know whether they are still alive or dead.”

“After the abduction, the Amasiri militias came to Okorojo Edda village, started destroying our properties and even beheaded one Chima Orji in our village. The said Chima Orji was buried without his head after his death as a result of the unfortunate invasion launched by the Amasiri world lords against our people.

“On this note, we appeal to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to urgently swing into action to stop this attack against our people, by ensuring issues lingering on the disputed land are being settled to save the lives and properties of innocent citizens.

“We are not comfortable with the way the  Amasiri militias have been engaged by their sponsors to destroy the lives and properties of our people since 2023. We are toeing the lines of peace because of the bold steps so far you have taken as a governor to ensure Ebonyi is a crisis-free state since the assumption of your office.” He stated.

Responding, the Chairman of Okporojo Development Union, Imo Samuel Oduko said the land in dispute belongs to Okporojo, Idima Edda community, stressing that, his people have been living there before Amasiri people were hired by Okporojo People’s forefathers to work for them, and set traps in their farms, through which they continued settling within the area.

“We are calling the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru and other relevant authorities to come to our aid because these Amasiri warlords have continued to launch deathly attacks on our people and this is not acceptable,” he stated.