By Johnson Nwankwo
Ikolo community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Monday, appealed to the Enugu State government to come to their rescue following an alleged invasion and killing of some natives of the community by their neighbouring Aku community.
According to the president general of Ikolo community, Chief Jude Okike Odo, media reports alleging that his community attacked Aku community, resulting in some casualties few days ago, were not true.
He said, “The attention of Ikolo Elders’ Forum and Ikolo General Assembly has been drawn to the invasion of Ikolo community by the youths from Aku community. It is very unfortunate. Ikolo community is a law-abiding community.”
He said the problem began after some natives of Aku did not return after visiting a native doctor at Ikolo. In his words, “There was an allegation against one Chibueze Anidobi, a herbalist from Ikolo, by some people from Aku. It was alleged that three persons from Aku, who claimed to have gone to Chibueze’s house to get medicine to treat their sick relative, could not be found since August 2, 2024 after their trip to his house. It was reported to Ogbede Police Station, and Anidobi was detained. To exonerate himself from the police, the herbalist paid N300, 000 to Ogbede Police Station to track the phone numbers of the missing persons.
“While the tracking was ongoing, some youths from Aku invaded Ogbede Police Station, insisting that Chibueze must be handed over to them. The police refused. Aku people, while returning, invaded Ikolo, killing one Mmesoma Omeke, who was at her uncle’s house. She was shot and killed. The matter was reported to the commissioner of police by HRH Igwe Gabriel Ezugwu. The divisional police officer, when contacted, told us that he sent some men, but they were waiting for reinforcement because of the crowd.”
On how the matter degenerated, the PG said, “We have been calling on the state government to come because land dispute is causing the problem. The deputy governor intervened, but they are yet to come to demarcate the land as they promised. This killing is getting too much. Our lives are in danger.
“On March 25th of this year, one Felix Odo, from Ikolo, was killed by this same group. On May 18, Maduabuchi Ude was shot and killed at Amete. Amaka Ezugwu was shot and currently receiving treatment. The state should rescue us. Aku people are larger than we are. They want to extinct us. They should come before it is too late.”
He claimed that Ikolo community had never initiated attacks against Aku community, regretting that the two communities had been peaceful until the land dispute erupted.
He added, “It is sad that Aku people could not wait for the police to complete their ongoing investigation into the matter before resorting to self-help. They are larger and wealthier than us, and we need protection otherwise, we shall soon be annihilated.”
Recall that Aku General Assembly (AGA), Aku Welfare Association Federated (AWAF), Aku-Diewa Lawyers Forum (ADLAF), National, and Aku Youth General Assembly, in a joint press briefing, weekend, sought the protection of Aku community from security agencies. They claimed Ikolo people were attacking them.
The chairman of AGA, Engr Innocent Okechukwu Dioke, represented by the National Chairman of ADLAF, Boniface Nnabuchi Ugwu, alleged that the three missing Aku youths are suspected to have been kidnapped by Ikolo people on their way to seek traditional medical assistance. According to him, four persons from Aku, who went in search of those missing, were killed.
He said, “On August 1, 2024, three young men from Aku, Frank Nnamdi Didigwu, Chibuike Nnadi and Obiora Dugwu, went to a traditional herbalist from Ikolo to obtain herbal medicine for treatment of one of their mothers who was in a critical heath condition. On getting to the premises of the traditional herbalist, one of them put a phone call to his sister’s phone, confirming that they had gotten to the residence of the herbalist. The three Aku boys are yet to be seen or their whereabouts known and their phones switched off.
“The matter was immediately reported to the police and the Enugu State government for necessary action. Our people went as a search party for the missing persons. Unfortunately, the search party was ambushed by armed Ikolo people and four out of them were shot and killed while scores of them sustained gunshot injuries.” He called on the state to intervene, and ensure the rescue of the three missing Aku Youths and bring the culprits to book.”
The spokesman of Enugu Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident, adding that, “The police and other security forces were deployed to the communities and normalcy has since been restored.”
