Enugu communities go to war over land
Those who witnessed the incident in Enugu had different versions to tell. It was a clash between the natives of Ugwuaji community in Enugu South and Ogui-Nike community in Enugu North over ownership of the vast land christened Premier Layout.
The layout, being newly developed, became contentious, when natives of the two communities began laying claim to it. Indeed, it was gathered that disagreement over the land began in 2005, leading to a subsisting case instituted at the Enugu High Court by one of the parties.
But even with the case still pending in court, natives of the two communities were said to have sold substantial part of the land to some individuals, who had started developing their portions.
Recently, natives of Ugwuaji had hired bulldozers, stormed the site and started demolishing every structure in sight. While the heavy-duty equipment were busy levelling the area, some youths from the area, armed with dangerous objects were positioned at strategic places to provide security.
Information was said to have reached Ogui-Nike community about what was happening. So, some youths from Ogui-Nike had mobilised to the area “to see things for themselves.”
According to the Guardian an attempt to stop the bulldozers had resulted in a free for all by members of the two communities. Every object in sight was turned into weapon that was freely used among the combatants. Blood flowed. Those who could escape did so. Those not so lucky received degrees of injuries on their bodies.
Policemen were called in to intervene and crush the uprising. They were able to do so, and also picked what was left of five natives of Ogui-Nike to a private hospital in Enugu. They include Onyema Agbo, Emmanuel Ede, Chukwuebuka Ede, Arinze Ede and Nkemjika Mba.
