7 feared dead, 52 houses torched as Anambra, Kogi communities fight over oil wells

AWKA- NO fewer than seven persons were
feared dead and 52 houses burnt when the
people of Enugu-Otu Aguleri in Anambra East
Local Government Area of Anambra State and
Ashonwo/Odeke in Ibaji Local Government
Council of Kogi State engaged in a bloody
clash over disputed land on their oil –rich
borders.

Kogi people have been laying claims to the
oil wells in Aguleri –Otu in Anambra State
shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan
commissioned the Orient Ptetroleum Refinery
in Anambra State last year.
A community leader in Enugu-Otu Aguleri,
Chief Anekwe Arinze told reporters Monday
that the people of Ashonwo/Odeke allegedly
invaded their community at about 1:30am
when they had all gone to bed.
He said: “We were sleeping when suddenly
we started hearing gunshots everywhere and
when some of us came out to know what was
happening, we saw our houses on fire.
“Our children and women who tried to
escape were shot and many were wounded.
We heard them saying the land belongs to
them and that we cannot take it. That was
when we knew it was Kogi people.
“Some of our men who summoned the
courage to pursue them could not get them
because when they noticed our prompt
response, they ran away. Already we have
counted seven corpses. They also kidnapped
three men.
“But we cannot fold our hands while they kill
our people. They must release them to us
hale and hearty.”
However, the Transition Committee Chairman
of Anambra East Council area, Comrade
Chinedu Obidigwe who could not confirm the
number of casualties lamented the level of
destruction in the community by the people
suspected to be from Kogi State, saying that
it was unfortunate that they took laws into
their hands by not going to court to prove
their case.
Obidigwe further urged both communities to
exercise restraints and avoid taking the laws
into their hands.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer,
PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka told
Vanguard that he he heard of the clash
informally, adding that he did not have the
details yet.
It was gathered yesterdays that some
soldiers had been deployed to the area to
maintain law and order.
247 NIGERIA NEWS.

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