By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka
At least five persons have been killed with several others injured as some irate youth attacked Isionye village in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State over disputed land.
Blueprint gathered that the hoodlums suspected to have hailed from the neighbouring Nawfia Community, also in Njikoka LGA, launched the attack around Monday evening.
However, a Facebook user, Miss Jennifer Okafor lamented that one of those killed at the incident was her only unmarried brother from Nri, Anaocha LGA.
The President - General, Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU), Nze Patrick Nworji, who confirmed the attack without mentioning numbers of victims in a press statement, described it as shocking and disappointing given that the two communities were culturally tied as Umunri clan.
According to him, survivors of the attacks were currently recuperating in the hospital but they had urged the people to remain calm and avoid taking the laws into their hands as the security agencies on high alert to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident has said they were neutral over the clash, even as they urged members of the public to provide the police with credible and useful information capable of leading to apprehension of all persons involved in the barbaric act.
Meanwhile, the President-General of Nawfia, Chief Daniel Okoye, and Igwe Daniel Obelle, in a joint statement condemning the recent violence which they said it occurred at Agu Anaocha axis of Ifite Nawfia and resulted in the loss of lives and injuries, denied involvement of people from their community in act.
The leaders emphasized that Nawfia people are law-abiding citizens who believe in due process, even as they expressed optimism that those involved could be land grabbers and speculators in Agu Anaocha axis, adding that they have documented and brought their activities to the attention of the Anambra State government for necessary action.