A 100-year-old land dispute between two communities in Anambra State; Ntoko and Awka, has claimed the life of an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
The police officer, who was identified as ASP Martins Onoja, from the IGP Monitoring Squad, was allegedly killed while on a visit to the communities to serve them a notice of invitation earlier this June for amicable settlement of the land feud.
Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has waded into the land dispute between the two communities, saying the move was to forestall breakdown of law and order.
Obiano, who received protesters from Awka communities, who were at the government house over the alleged take over of their land by Ntoko community, accused indigenes of Ntoko of being responsible for the death of Onoja.
Mr. Clement Ekeh, leader of the protesters said the land in question belonged to two families in Awka and that it was their ancestral land, but had been taken over by Ntoko indigenes, who he accused of using violence, including the killing of the police officer.
Obiano, who was represented by the Anambra State Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Bonaventure Enemali, who received the protesters from Awka community at the government house, said government will not sit back and watch communities engage in violence.
Obiano said, “We’ll not watch that (violence) happen. I commend you for this peaceful protest, and I assure you that the boundary committee will look into the matter and settle it once and for all.”
Indigenes of Ntoko community had on Monday also led a protest to the government house, accusing the monarch of Awka kingdom, Austin Ndigwe of appropriating their land for his community, while also denying killing the police officer.
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