From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Leaders of Aku community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area Enugu State have called on the Enugu State government to urgently demarcate its boundary with neighbouring Ikolo community to avoid unnecessary blood shed.
The leaders who addressed a press conference in Enugu yesterday said that the age-long land tussle between the two communities was about taking a turn for the worse, adding that Aku people have endured several attacks from Ikolo youths both recently and in the past.
The President General of Akutara Enu autonomous community in Aku, Chief Sylvanus Akarekwe, who spoke on behalf of the leaders noted that though Ikolo community were just a fraction of their community in number, Aku leaders have been able to avoid the temptation of going out for reprisals because they believe in the cause of law.
“We are begging the state government. This is not more than them. We are all under them. To please intervene. Come and demarcate, give us a boundary so that lives will be saved.
“Most of the Ikolo youths are in the village doing nothing. Early in the morning they will come out, drink and block any vehicle coming from the Aku community.
“We are begging the state governor, Peter Mbah, that it is time he helped us to demarcate, to give us the boundary. This is an age-long matter. There have been so many court judgements in our favour. As far back as the 1940s there was a court judgment on this issue.
“All these documents are with the government. They have everything they need to come and do the demarcation. We know that this is a hearing government, we are begging them to please come to our aid and save lives.
In a recent incident involving Aku and Ikolo people, Akarekwe alleged that armed Ikolo youths barricaded Aku/Ogbede road and threatened Aku farmers in their ancestral farm lands, leaving some of them with machete cuts.
He said: “The armed Ikolo youths in their usual acts of impunity started attacking Aku people passing along the road, using dangerous weapons such as axes and knives to inflict bodily injuries on many of their victims.
“Four people from Aku were severely afflicted with machete cuts by the armed youths. The victims include, Chinonso Ogbebe, Dan Mbah, Akunaesiobike Ike and Ogbu Chekwube who narrowly escaped being killed.
“This unwarranted attack by Ikolo people was reported at Ogbede Police Station while the victims were admitted at Ezemobi private hospital Aku,” he said.