The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killing and beheading of four persons in Okporojọr Village, Osso Edda Community, Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, was linked to a renewed outbreak of violence arising from a long-standing land dispute between the Oso Edda Community in Edda LGA and the Amasiri Community in Afikpo Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the two neighbouring communities have been embroiled in a protracted conflict over farmland spanning several years.
NAN also reports that the latest clash resulted in suspected warlords beheading four persons, burning houses, and destroying valuable property in the affected village.
Speaking during an assessment visit to the scene on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs Adaku Uche-Anya, confirmed that 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
She said the attack, which occurred on January 29, claimed the lives of four persons—three males and one female.
“Several mud houses were burnt, windows of a church building were damaged, and harvested paddy rice was destroyed,” the police commissioner said.
According to Uche-Anya, preliminary investigations showed that the violence was linked to the long-standing land dispute between Okporojọr Village in Oso Edda Community and Ndukwe Community in Amasiri.
She explained that following the report of the incident, the command immediately deployed tactical squads to the area to restore calm and normalcy.
“Upon receipt of the report, we ordered the massive deployment of command tactical squads to the scene,” she said.
The commissioner commiserated with the people of Okporojọr Village over the loss of lives and destruction of property, assuring them of the police command’s commitment to ensuring justice.
She stressed that investigations were ongoing and vowed that all those involved in the crime would be brought to justice.
Uche-Anya further assured residents that security deployment in the area would be sustained until the situation was fully resolved, while cautioning against self-help and taking the law into one’s hands.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Mr Chima Ekumankama, commended the Ebonyi State Government and the Nigeria Police Force for their swift intervention. (NAN)
