Anambra Government Shuts Otuocha Market Over Aguleri & Umuoba Anam War

 Anambra Broadcasting Service

Anambra Government Shuts Down Otuocha Market After Five Die In Aguleri-Umuoba-Anam Dispute

By Emmanuel Okonkwo (ABS News)

Anambra State Government has directed the immediate suspension of economic and other activities at Otuocha company market following the escalation of the dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam communities which has allegedly claimed five lives.

The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, gave the directive when he on the instruction of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, visited the area to ascertain the level of damage caused by the crisis.

During the visit, the ABS crew observed that several houses, shops, a rice processing factory containing numerous bags of rice, as well as other goods and property, had been burnt, while traders were seen fleeing the area with their remaining goods.

Deputy Governor Ibezim, who is also the Chairman of Anambra State Boundary Committee, warned that no activity is allowed in the market until the government completes necessary investigations and takes appropriate action against those responsible for the incident.

He cautioned that no community leader or local government chairman has the authority to determine boundaries between communities without the knowledge of the state government, stressing that the State Boundary Committee is responsible for the monumentation of boundaries within the state.

In separate interviews, the Traditional Ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Michael Idigo, and his Umuoba-Anam counterpart, Igwe George Ekwealor, explained that the crisis erupted when Aguleri people attempted to mount a signpost and security cameras in the market area, saying that their communities respectively lost three and two persons in the incident, while several others were hospitalised and valuable property destroyed.

The traditional rulers thanked the Anambra State Government for its swift intervention, which they said helped to prevent further casualties and destruction.

Deputy Governor Ibezim was accompanied to the scene of the incident by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Nnanna Oji; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Vepor Egbuna; Special Assistant to the Governor on Boundary Matters, Mr Ekenechukwu Okoye, among others.