Tension has risen in Anambra following a fresh communal land dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam communities in Anambra East Local Government Area, with one person confirmed dead and several others injured.
The clash, which reportedly occurred on Friday, left some residents with gunshot and machete injuries, while a microfinance bank in Aguleri was also reportedly set ablaze during the violence.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, however, initially denied reports of the incident.
The police later confirmed that one person had been killed and several others sustained varying degrees of injuries, adding that security personnel had been deployed to the area to restore peace and maintain law and order.
The latest incident is believed to be connected to a longstanding land dispute between the two communities, which dates back to 1999 and had previously attracted the intervention of the then Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The dispute reportedly centres on land said to have been given to Umuoba Anam by Amaeze-Aguleri on trust several decades ago. It was gathered that disagreements later emerged over claims to ownership of the land.
Meanwhile, former member of the House of Representatives for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the 2027 general election, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe, has intervened in the dispute and commenced dialogue with the leadership of the two communities.
In a statement issued by his office, Obidigwe expressed concern over the renewed violence and appealed to residents of both communities to avoid further escalation.
“My brothers and sisters, I am deeply concerned and saddened by the disturbing developments arising from the dispute between Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam, including alleged reports of casualties. My heart goes out to every family and individual affected,” he said.
Obidigwe urged the parties to return to the negotiating table and resolve the dispute peacefully.
“I passionately appeal to our people on both sides to remain calm and resist further violence. This matter must be brought to the roundtable and resolved peacefully with immediate effect. It must not be allowed to escalate,” he said.
He stressed that the dispute should not be allowed to degenerate into a wider conflict between the entire Aguleri and Anam communities.
“Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam are neighbours, brothers and communities bound by history and common interests. This particular dispute is between two villages—one in Anam and one in Aguleri. It must never be allowed to become a conflict between the entire Anam and Aguleri communities,” he said.
Obidigwe said disagreements between individuals, kindreds or villages should be resolved through dialogue rather than violence.
He warned that anyone attempting to portray the dispute as a war between the wider Aguleri and Anam communities would be acting against the peace, unity and interests of the people.
He also called on community leaders, elders, stakeholders and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and facilitate sincere dialogue between the parties.
“For the sake of our mothers, our children and generations yet unborn, let dialogue prevail over violence, reconciliation over retaliation, and peace over conflict,” he added.
Security personnel have remained deployed in the affected area as efforts continue to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.
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