The President-General of Umueri community Chief Sunday Udealor has thanked Governor Willie Obiano for imposing a curfew and setting up panel of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of Aguleri -Umueri-Umuoba Anam crisis.
Governor Willie Obiano
The crisis burst into the open once more on Saturday at the disputed portion of land. Natives blame it on intrusion by a citizen of one of the communities.
However, before normalcy could be restored, houses, cars and motorcycles had been burnt or damaged.
Following this the the government announced imposition of curfew on the area.
Governor Willie Obiano has announced the imposition of curfew on the communities all of which were located in Anambra East local government area.
The government said the measure was to stem the outbreak of communal violence reported in the three communities.
In a statement Obiano said the curfew will last from 7pm to 7am daily, beginning on Saturday, 16th January, 2021 and that it will last for three days in the first instance and violators of the curfew would be prosecuted.
In n an interview with Udealor, he denied that some people list their lives or sustained injuries.
He told reporters: “It was a stone throwing war. We three stones at each other. If you watch the video you will see it. Nobody died or got wounded.
“I thank the Governor for imposing a curfew in the area. With that normalcy had returned .
“The also announced a panel of enquiry but he has not announced the members or their terms of reference”, Udealor said.
Meanwhile, Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET) has condemned the current crisis.
In a release signed by its Chairman who is also the Citizens’ Co-Chair, Open Govermment Partnership (OGP) in the State, Prince Chris Azor, the Network, implored indigenes of the two communities to eschew all forms of violence and pursue peace option towards settling their grievances and differences.
The statement reminds both communities of their age long ties of affinity and brotherhood
It called on the traditional rulers and leaders of both communities, as well as the entire Omambala stakeholders, to convoke peace building and conflict resolution dialogue meetings, that would engender sustainable peaceful coexistence in the affected Communities.
It also enjoined all stakeholders to key into the State government’s intervention efforts, through the Governor, Chief (Sir) Willie Obiano, and ensure cessation of hostilities.
It warned that further escalation of the crisis may adversely affect the lives and livelihoods of our people, more so during this COVID-19 pandemic and its debilitating social and economic challenges.
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