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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Akpawfu, an agrarian community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, has not known peace since the activities of gunmen spiked in the South East. The place has remained a theatre of war of some sort with occasional security operations involving the military.
Remarkably, the community did one thing that is not common in this part of the world. When it was discovered that some of the hoodlums terrorising Enugu and its environs had camps in Akpawfu forests, the community blew the lid by drawing the attention of security agencies to what was going on there. This led to heavy military deployment to the area, resulting in the arrest and killing of some of the hoodlums.
Daily Sun gathered that the situation gradually snowballed into internal communal clash between two out of the three communities, which made up Akpawfu. There were accusations and counteraccusations between the traditional ruler of Akpawfu community, Igwe Christopher Nnamani, and stakeholders in the community.
Though the conflict has continued unabated, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as both youthful and elderly women from Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode have taken it upon themselves to bring an end to the conflict.
The women recently came together and formed a group known as Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security (WAPS) with the sole aim of advocating for peacebuilding efforts in the community.
They have waded into the matter, vowing not to rest until peace is restored in Akpawfu. Already, they have organised town hall meetings and workshops to educate the community on the importance of peaceful coexistence.
In their search for peace in the community, the women reached out to village heads and youth leaders of different villages to promote understanding and cooperation.
They have also been actively involved in supporting displaced victims of the conflict who are taking refuge in neighbouring communities of Akpugo, Amagunze and other places.
It was further gathered that the women are to set up a counselling service for survivors of violence, and carry out fundraising initiatives to support families affected by the conflict.
However, despite the successes recorded so far, the Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security has gone a step further to plead with the Enugu State Government to intervene in the matter and ensure that peace returned to Akpawfu.
In an open letter to Governor Peter Mbah, dated June 10, 2023, the women outlined their concerns and asked for greater support for peacebuilding efforts in the community.
Chairperson of WAPS, Catherine Ede, who spoke on their recent activities, pleaded with security agents to release all those arrested in relation to the communal crisis as a way of calming frayed nerves and dampening the conflict.
She said: “We decry the arrest on Friday, June 9, 2023 of Chukwuma Abel, Isiah Owoh, Nnenna Owoh Nwa Ani W’nshi, Nnaemeka Agwu, Onyema Onovo Ekwe and Fidelis Onovo. They were arrested at Mgbere and Oriemba respectively in Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, by men in police uniform.
“It is more worrisome that the group established and registered as the community neighbourhood watch for our town is the ones leading officers to identify only Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode sons and daughters for arrest.
“While others were released, Onyema Onovo Ekwe and Fidelis Onovo were held in detention at Amagunze police station for many days before being granted bail over the weekend.”
They lamented that harassment and intimidation of their people with security agents continued unabated as two other persons; Friday Okorie and Nonso Ani-Ogbu were arrested at Ozalla in Nkanu West LGA on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
The women want those wrongly arrested in connection with the communal strife to be released unconditionally.
“The women have continued to advocate for their cause, speaking out against violence and promoting dialogue and understanding. We are identifying civil society organizations to work with in order to raise awareness about the conflict and to put pressure on the government to act.
“We have also been seeking support from various groups and non-governmental organizations in our efforts to bring peace to Akpawfu,” she explained.
On the challenges faced by the group, Ede said that “the journey towards peace will not be easy, and it will require the cooperation of everyone in the community. But we are determined to see it through, for the sake of our families, our children, and our future.
“For the women of Umuanigbiyovo, and for the people of Akpawfu, the quest for peace remains a top priority. Although the intervention from the government has yet to come, the women remain optimistic that we can achieve our goal through tireless efforts and the support of our sons, especially those who reside outside our town.”
She maintained that they were determined to create a brighter future for all, no matter the challenges they faced at the moment.
