Many killed, abducted, thousands displaced in Ebonyi communities

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

Many lives have been lost in Ekpaomaka and  Inyimegu communities, Ikwo Local Government Area of  Ebonyi State and Ihie community in Ivo local government area also in the state in the  land dispute between the communities. Property, including houses, motorcycles,  household items and economic trees worth billions of naira were destroyed in the crises.

Ekpaomaka and  Inyimegu communities are in the central zone  in the state while Ihie, is in the southern part of the state. The three communities have been at war over land for decades with many lives lost while efforts were made by successive administrations in the state to resolve the disputes to no avail.

The disputes got renewed this month following killings, maiming, abductions and wantom destruction of property. In the Ekpaomaka and Inyimegu renewed crisis which started on the ninth day of last month, no  fewer than nine lives have been lost.

While two persons were said to have been killed in Mgbabor Inyimagu in the renewed violence, seven persons were killed in Ebiem Ekpaomaka according to reports. 

On January 31, 2012, there, was massacre in Ndegu Akataka of Ekpaomaka by suspected warlords. Six years later, precisely on March 7, 2018, the two warring communities returned to the trenches with many people killed  after efforts were made by the government then to restore peace.

Among those killed during the incident  was a soldier from the community serving outside the state who returned home over worsening health condition of his family member. Thousands of people displaced were displaced that time.

On April 16, this year, more  killings, maiming and destructions  occurred in the two communities. A cleric from Ekpa-Omaka, Jude J.E, said the killings was triggered by the attack on a man who was working in his farm, which led to his death. He revealed that one of the villagers,  Azubuike Nwakpu from Ebiem Ekpaomaka was also killed that period and his body taken away by his killers and has not been found till date.

He said: “In light of these happenings, the Ekpa-Omaka people were still trying to cope with the swooping venom of their neighbours.

“Another eclipse of fatality fell on the innocent lives of Ebiem Ekpaomaka indigenes on the 9th of August, 2025 at 2 pm as the whole community was surrounded by armed militias and hired assassins,  with sophisticated weapons. They opened fire on the entire community without a route for the people of Ebiem, Mbada and Akahufu in our community.

“This particular case has also claimed the lives of people, both old and young, without being reported or brought to the attention of the government of the day.

“To make things worse, people who disguised in military  uniforms invaded the community on August 10, 2025, burnt down houses, killed and maimed the residents of both Ebiem and Akahufu Ekpaomaka and carried away their bodies to an unknown location.”

He called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene in the crisis, lamenting that many people have been displaced over the crisis.

The state police public relations officer, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the renewed crisis. He told Daily Sun that the command met with some stakeholders of the communities, including the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Odunwa,  over the crisis.

“I know there have been issues in the communities but I don’t think there has been loss of lives. We even met with the stakeholders of the communities. I will ask about the loss of lives you are telling me. We were with the Speaker of the House of Assembly and other stakeholders of those areas. Let me just call that area now,” he said.

Women, children and many other people were seen in viral video crying for help with loads on their heads, relocating from the communities while many houses were also seen in flames.

In the Ihie crisis in Ivo local government area,  four people, including two children, were reportedly  killed in Ikembe Ezza community in the area. The incident came  barely two weeks after a similar assault in Egumkpuma Ezza community, also in the local government area.

Eyewitnesses said  gunmen stormed the village in the early hours, setting several houses ablaze.

A middle-aged woman was among those killed, while a young girl and two children were burnt alive in their homes. The victims are Ms Nwankwo Elum,  Ikechukwu Basil, Nwali Bridget and Ebenezer Nweke John.

On July 30, this year, the Egumkpuma Ezza community was similarly attacked, with homes torched and gunshots reported. Weeks later,  a couple was also abducted around the area by unknown persons.

Police attributed the previous incidents to long-running communal tensions in the area. Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Adaku Anthonia Uche-Anya, who  visited the affected communities on August 11, has deployed more officers to restore peace. She disclosed to journalists at a press briefing that the person that instigated the crisis has been arrested.

“The command’s proactive engagement with stakeholders, helped prevent the Ihie/Ezza Ekembe crisis from escalating.

“on 14/8/2025. One Agboti Kingsley hired as part of mercenaries to instigate the crisis in Ekembe community was arrested and is currently assisting the police with useful information,” she stated.

Dr. Sampson Oko Nweke, who is the Chairman, Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE) in the state,  called for urgent intervention by  Nwifuru. He also urged the Ivo local government area chairman, and community leaders to prevent the crisis from spiraling further.

“The perpetrators and those fanning the embers of this violence must be identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” Nweke said.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ihie autonomous community, Gabriel Uzoma Okoro, warned against spreading false information on the crisis that rocked the community. He urged those spreading false information to desist from such to forestall an escalation of the crisis in the  area.

Okoro, who maintained that normalcy had been restored in the area, added: ”We are just coming out from a meeting with the leadership of the police in the state and I must commend the state commissioner of police for her commitment and determination in ensuring a lasting peace in Ihie community.’’

“Let me also commend Governor Nwifuru and the local government  area chairman, Emmanuel Ajah, for their support and effort in the restoration of peace in our community. No community develops when there is crisis in the area.

“From our meeting and from information available to us, the police are yet to come out with a definite position or statement that the couple has been killed. We are still waiting for the police to  conclude their investigation and come out with their definite report.

“Let me advice those spreading rumor that the couple has been killed to desist from such and allow police to conclude their investigation and come out with their report. Such insinuation and rumor may jeopardize the effort being made by the police to ensure that the crisis does not escalate.

“When the couple were abducted, our youths mobilized and went in search for them but unfortunately, they are yet to be seen,” he stated.

He  called on the people of the community to remain calm and law abiding and not to take law into their hands. “Let us eschew any form of violence or act capable of disrupting the peace process in the community.

“We are confident that the state governor, the police and the local government authority are on the matter and an amicable resolution to the crisis will be achieved. Ihie is a peaceful community and we will not allow anyone to instigate our youths into engaging in violent acts.”