Aguleri-Umuoba Anam crisis: Anambra suspends activities at Otuocha market after five deaths, many injuries
By Emmanuel Okonkwo
The Anambra State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of economic and other activities at Otuocha Company Market following an escalation of the dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam communities, which has reportedly claimed five lives.
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, gave the directive during a visit to the area on the instruction of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to assess the extent of damage caused by the crisis.
During the visit, this reporter observed several houses and shops, as well as a rice processing factory containing numerous bags of rice, among other goods and property, which had been burnt.
Traders were also seen fleeing the area with their remaining goods as tension persisted.
Ibezim, who is also Chairman of the Anambra State Boundary Committee, warned that no activity should take place in the market until the government completes its investigations and takes appropriate action against those responsible for the incident.
He stressed that no community leader or local government chairman has the authority to determine boundaries between communities without the involvement of the state government.
The Deputy Governor explained that the State Boundary Committee is responsible for the monumentation of boundaries within the state.
Speaking separately, the Traditional Ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Michael Idigo, and his Umuoba Anam counterpart, Igwe George Ekwealor, said the crisis erupted after an attempt by people from Aguleri to mount a signpost and security cameras in the market area.
The traditional rulers said their communities respectively lost three and two persons in the incident, while several others were hospitalised and valuable property destroyed.
They commended the Anambra State Government for its swift intervention, which they said helped to prevent further casualties and destruction.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied during the visit 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 other officials.
