10 killed or missing, 2,000 displaced in Anambra communal clash — NEMA

NEMA officials during the assessment visit of the affected communities...Photo: Ikenna Obianeri

The National Emergency Management Agency said no fewer than 10 persons had either been killed or declared missing, while about 150 houses were destroyed during the communal clash between Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Similarly, the agency said no fewer than 2,000 persons were displaced during the crisis.

The Head of Operations, NEMA Enugu Zonal Office, Priscilla Madukwe, disclosed this when she led a team to the affected areas for an impact assessment on Saturday.

The assessment team, comprising NEMA and SEMA officials, was led to the devastated communities by the Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Chinweze, alongside some community leaders and security operatives.

Recall that the communal clash, which occurred in October, led to the destruction of houses, shops, factories, automobiles and other property belonging to residents of the communities, including non-indigenes.

The palace of a monarch was also razed, prompting the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to convene a high-level stakeholders’ peace meeting at the Light House, Awka, to address the protracted crisis.

Our correspondent gathered that, more than one month after the incident, the affected areas remained deserted, with some security personnel stationed there to maintain peace and order.

However, during the visit, the NEMA Head of Operations said the magnitude of the destruction prompted the Federal Government, through the agency, to visit the affected communities to evaluate the extent of the damage, with a view to assisting the victims.

Speaking during the exercise, Madukwe said, “No fewer than 150 houses were destroyed during the communal clash that occurred in Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities in October.

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“Similarly, about 2,000 persons were displaced while 10 persons were either killed or declared missing during the crisis in the affected areas.

“The destruction prompted the Federal Government through the NEMA, to visit the affected communities to evaluate the extent of damage, with a view to assisting the victims.

“The level of damage is unfortunate. Our findings will be submitted to the Federal Government for possible assistance to the victims to enable them to return to their homes.”

Madukwe, however, called on community leaders and stakeholders in the affected areas to ensure that the crisis was resolved and guard against a recurrence.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Chinweze, assured that efforts were being made to resolve the differences that led to the disturbance.

Chinweze, therefore, called on the people to embrace peace and dialogue, stressing that the curfew imposed in the area had contributed to restoring calm to the zone.

He thanked the Federal Government for sending the assessment team and expressed the hope that relief would come to the people to reduce the pain caused by the crisis.

In an interview, the Head of Administration, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Ndidi Omega, said the government had set up a committee to look into the crisis, recommend ways to prevent a recurrence and suggest assistance for the victims.