The traditional ruler of Umueri Community in Anambra East Council Area of Anambra State, Igwe Ben Emeka has described the violence that ensued between youths of his community and those of Nsugbe Community as highly condemnable and avoidable.
Igwe Emeka was speaking when TNC correspondent in Anambra reached out to him over the crisis which had resulted in the killing of two youths.
Two youths from Nsugbe community were killed while five persons from Umueri community sustained gunshot wounds in the violence that began as a result of a boundary dispute between both communities of Anambra East Council Area.
Nsugbe youths had recently protested at the state government house over alleged threats of invasion by Umueri youths, seeking government’s intervention to arrest the situation and bring the killers of their kinsmen to justice.
Speaking when he was contacted, Igwe Emeka of Umueri kingdom described the violence as the result of disobedience by the youths, insisting that both traditional rulers of the communities have condemned the killings.
Noting that both communities must go back to the drawing board and re-ignite the cordial relationship that had existed between them for ages, Igwe Emeka called for an end to the violence.
“Nsugbe and Umueri are close neighbours and have lived without any strife for ages. We are brothers and sisters.
“But you know children of nowadays, they don’t consult with the elders before taking any action.
“So, what happened between Nsugbe community and Nneyi village of Umueri is quite unfortunate.
“Anyone who is dragging land and ends up wasting human life is most unreasonable.
“I’m in talks with the traditional ruler of Nteje. “
It is pleasing to note that the state government through the Office of the Deputy Governor has waded into the matter.
“We have held one meeting with our neighbor and there is calm now and we want maintain that calm so that the matter does not escalate.
“We understand that where there is no peace, there can never be any development and that’s what I always tell them.
“By the grace of God, we are handling it and there will not be any further crisis, other than what the youths had created for us without telling anybody,” the monarch said.
Igwe Emeka reminded youths of both communities that there is no benefit fighting one another, urging them to toe the path of peace.
“My advice to the youths is that war has never availed any good thing. These two youths that are dead now can never come back to life.
“The youths must learn to listen to constituted authorities. There is no traditional ruler that will instruct its youths to go to war.
“So, let them harken to the advice of leaders so that we can nip this problem in the bud,” he said.
