Another communal clash between Aguleri and Umueri communities in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State is imminent due to breach of the agreement by both communities to maintain peace in the area.
A clash between the two communities early this year led to the destruction of some houses, while few people sustained injuries.
The development attracted the attention of the state police command, which prevailed on the two communities to sign the agreement to ensure that peace reigned in the area.
However, the president general of Umueri General Assembly, Pius Okonkwo, and the secretary general, Samuel Mbukwesili, in a petition dated July 4 to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, alleged that Aguleri people had forcefully entered the disputed land with armed thugs, and threatening peace in the area.
The petition read in part: “Pursuant to our earlier letter, you directed that Umueri and Aguleri people should desist from entering into the area of land in Aguakor Umueri land (from Otuocha-Oye Agu Road to the fish market up to the Otuocha Township Stadium) and that nobody should construct any building or carry out any activity therein.
“And to bring peace, you constituted an unbiased peace committee, in which both communities have equal representatives to look into the dispute, make findings and proffer possible settlement procedures.
“To our chagrin, however, and in defiance to your directives and in total disregard of the peace committee, Aguleri people and their armed thugs have continued to enter into the disputed area of land in Aguakor Umueri land and are carrying on construction works daily on the land.
“They are usually well armed with guns to scare Umueri people away and threaten to kill any Umueri indigene who would try to question them.
“Umueri people are peace loving and law abiding, thus, our obedience to your directives and respect to the peace committee, are practical proof. But if the persons involved are not called to order, their conduct is likely to trigger off another inter-communal crisis between the two neighbouring towns of Umueri and Aguleri.
“We therefore urge you to use your good office to call the persons involved to order and prevent the looming danger their conduct is likely to cause.”
It would be recalled that an inter-communal clash between the two communities in 1999 claimed hundreds of human lives, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
