Land Dispute: ‘Ebonyi Communities Killing Each Other Again,’ Ex-Lawmaker Raises Alarm
A former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, has raised the alarm over reported renewed killings between residents of Izzi and Ikwo clans in Ebonyi State due to a disputed parcel of ancestral land in the area.
Okorie represented Ohaozara / Onicha / Ivo Federal Constituency of the state around 2014, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
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In a statement made available to THE WHISTLER on Sunday, the ex-lawmaker claimed that disagreements over the said land had degenerated to the point that Ikwo and Izzi residents were taking up arms and killing themselves.
“It is disturbing to note that at a time bordering communities and clans are coming together to forge alliances to find solutions to the menace of killer-herdsmen and other forms of insecurity in the state and the nation in general, Ikwo and Izzi clans are up in arms killing each other over a parcel of ancestral land, that will outlive all of us.
“It is highly condemnable and I urge the two brothers to sheathe their swords and embrace peace immediately,” he stated.
He urged stakeholders, including traditional rulers and the state government, to rise up to the occasion and mediate in the crisis urgently.
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Checks by our correspondent showed that the clash between the two clans dates back to several years.
The government of Dave Umahi had confirmed via a press release on its website in 2018 that similar clashes between the warring parties had led to the death of a teacher.
“Umahi expressed worry that the clashes had continued in the area despite government’s intervention even as he blamed stakeholders in the affected communities for not doing enough to stop the crisis even after the present administration had taken over the disputed land. Recall that the incessant clashes in the areas had claimed many lives including that of a Vice-Principal recently abducted and slaughtered,” the state government stated in July 23, 2018 while floating a picture where the governor was in a meeting with community leaders.
The two clans make up the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
