LAND DISPUTE: OZU-ABIAM WOMEN PROTEST KILLING & KIDNAPPING OF THEIR PEOPLE, SEEK ABIA STATE GOVT INTERVENTION

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Over three hundred women from Ozu-Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State have embarked on a peaceful protest, calling on the state government to intervene in a lingering land dispute between the community and its neighbours, Ndi-Okorie Abam of the same council.

The women, who dressed in black attire, matched to the Government House Umuahia to tender their complaints to the state government.

The protesters
carried placards with different inscriptions: “stop destroying our farms,” “Ozu- Abam is a peaceful community,” “why the killings; we are brothers,” amongst others.

Speaking during the peaceful protest, the leader of the protesters, Mrs. Uche Egbuta, alleged that the people of Ndi-Okorie Abam laid ambush to kidnap, machete and killed their people who had gone to harvest palm fruits.

According to Mrs. Egbuta, many are hospitalized at the Federal Medical Center Umuahia while one person is feared dead in the crisis.

She appealed for dialogue to ensure a lasting peace in the area.

Responding, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth kalu, commended the protesters for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner rather than taking laws into their hands.

Professor Kanu gave them an assurance that the state government would utilize all the necessary measures through security agencies to ensure lasting peace in the communities.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU