Abakaliki, Nigeria – A boundary dispute between two communities in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has left four people dead over contested land known as “Elueke.” The violent clash involved residents of Umuobor and Ogwor villages, who have long been at odds over the ownership of the disputed plot.
According to a community member who spoke on Friday, tensions escalated when a contingent entered the land on Wednesday to harvest yams, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The fatal confrontation was compounded by an earlier incident in which a woman was killed on Monday.
Chinasa Okorie, coordinator of the Akaeze Development Centre, confirmed the series of killings during an interview in Abakaliki. Describing the incident as “wicked,” Okorie stressed the need for calm. “The government has declared it a buffer zone, so nobody is allowed to enter the land,” he said, urging both communities to avoid further actions that might inflame the dispute.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police have confirmed only the killing of the woman on February 17. SP Joshua Ukandu, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, explained, “We know about the incident involving the killing of a woman on Feb. 17. That is the one we have the information; the command is investigating the matter. Officers and men have been deployed to the area.”
The dispute over “Elueke” reflects deep-seated issues surrounding land ownership in the region. As authorities work to de-escalate the situation and piece together the full sequence of events, both community leaders and government officials are calling for restraint, emphasizing the importance of dialogue over violence.
Authorities continue to investigate the killings, and local stakeholders hope that swift intervention will restore peace and prevent further loss of life.