The Umuode community in
Nkanu East Local Government Area of
Enugu State said, yesterday, that its
people had been under “heavy
bombardment” since the last two days
by their neighbouring Oruku
community which had been in conflict
with them.
The hostilities between Oruku and
Umuode communities started again,
Monday, as both camps were said to
have engaged in gun battle with Oruku
claiming that two of her natives were
allegedly shot dead by gunmen from
Umuode.
The state police command confirmed
the death of an Oruku native, Charles
Iyiagwo, Wednesday, and said it had
beefed up security in the area but the
shooting continued, forcing the natives
to flee to neighbouring communities.
However, in a statement by Mr. Paul
Chukwudi, Secretary, Umuode Town
Union, yesterday, the community
alleged that their Oruku opponents
overran their community following a
fresh dispute over the construction of a
primary school in the area.
According to the statement, “the
hostilities between Oruku and Umuode
communities in EnuguState were
rekindled on Monday as the guns
started to boom once more in Umuode
community. The Umuode community
has been trying to roof the primary
school being constructed by the
Community and Social Development
Project, CSDP (a World Bank-assisted
project) in the state when they were
attacked.”
“Oruku people were vehemently
opposed to the construction of the
primary school in Umuode. The primary
school premises has been under
constant bombardment by the Oruku
warlords. On the night prior to the
inspection by the CSDP team, the wood
meant for the roofing of the school was
burnt by Oruku youths who invaded the
compound at night.
‘’They had in the past three weeks
made it impossible for us to roof the
primary school.”
The children of Umuode community
have resorted to the use of one of the
buildings in the Eke market as a
primary school since they were unable,
due to previous hostilities, to complete
the school. In the recent attack, many
people were injured and some missing.
The community is still counting its
losses.”
A night attack on the community last
night led to the death of one man from
the neighbouring Akpuoga community
who was shot by the warlords from
Oruku who decided this time to launch
their onslaught against Umuode from
the Oruku/Akpuoga axis at their
boundary with Umuode.
‘’It will be remembered that Oruku
youths had gone to the residence of
the traditional ruler of Umuode on
October 9, 2012 and assassinated him.
It is unfortunate that no person has
been made to account for this
assassination.
The hostilities between the two
communities had continued despite the
appeal made by the Catholic Bishop of
Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callistus
Onaga at the burial of the traditional
ruler of Umuode, His Royal Highness,
Igwe Moses Ugwu. At the burial, he
called for restraint and forgiveness on
the part of Umuode people and the
cessation of hostilities between the two
communities.
This problem has continued to fester
because the state government has
been foot dragging on the
implementation of the White Paper
released in 2009 which would have
solved the problem once and for all
times by restricting each community to
its land. The constant encroachment of
Oruku on Umuode portion of the land
has continued to generate tension.”
LINK:
www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/communal-conflict-we-are-under-heavy-bombardment-umuode-raises-alarm/

Where is Chime, hope we still have a Governor? Pls something shld be done and very fast. Sad