Two persons were feared dead while four others were injured in a boundary conflict between Odekpe and Allah/Onugwa communities in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A policeman on a peace mission in the area reportedly got missing in connection with the clash said to have occurred at a refugee camp in Igbamaka village, Ilushi community.
The Nation gathered both communities have been at loggerheads since July over a parcel of land on their boundary.
Speaking to newsmen, a resident of Allah/Onugwa, David Uzor, alleged that his uncle was abducted during an invasion of the refugee camp by some persons he referred to as warlords suspected to have operated from Odekpe community.
He said: “Odekpe people came in their numbers into the community where my people were taking refuge. When they arrived with about six boats, they began to shoot indiscriminately and chased everybody away.
“They got hold of my uncle, Anthony Uzor, and took him away to their Odekpe community and killed him.
“They killed him slowly. They first cut off the two hands and legs before they cut off the throat.
“They claimed that our people killed one of their own but when the truth came out it happened that the man was killed by somebody from Edo State over some issues.
“The attackers shot one Igbamaka villager. About four persons from the village were injured. They also beat up three Igbamaka women and collected their phones.”
A community leader in Odekpe, Chief Austen Anerah, dismissed the allegations, accusing Allah/Onugwa people of cooking up lies targeted at drawing sympathies from police and the public.
According to him, Allah/Onugwa warlords first killed one of their sons, Goddy Chukwuemeka.
When contacted, Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed said the concerned parties should contact the nearest police station, claiming the incident did not occur within the command’s jurisdiction.
He said: “The incident took place outside Anambra command’s jurisdiction. The concerned parties should approach the nearest police station in the state where the incident took place.”
Credit: The Nation