Many feared killed, 50 missing, 300 injured following communal clash in Anambra

Several people are said to have been killed following a communal clash between Omor and Umumbo communities in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State.

Though the number of persons who died as a result of the recent clash is yet to be confirmed, however, it was learnt that about 50 persons were abducted and over 300 farmers sustained bullet and machete injuries due to the clash.

The squabble was said to have started during the last farming season but following an agreement entered into by the warring communities the situation was brought under control.

But the current unease in the area was said to have emanated after some crooked elements among the farmers instigated some people to seek vengeance over what they suffered during the last clash.

According to an eyewitness, aside those who died, abducted and sustained injuries, shops and rice mills belonging to Umumbo community were also destroyed in the clash in Omor and environs.

It was further learnt that it took the effort of Speaker of the Anambra State Assembly and the representative of the area in the House, Uche Okafor, who was accompanied by heavily armed military and mobile policemen to quell the bloody clash.

Anambra State Police Command, SP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the clash said a detachment of policemen had been drafted to the communities and the situation was brought under control.

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Equally, confirming the development, Anambra State government said in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Mr C. Don Adinuba, that the conflict was a negation of the effort of the government and people in the past six years to make the state safe and secure among states in the federation.

An unconfirmed number of people were said to have been arrested in the two communities which are among the major food-producing areas of Anambra State, where rice and other grains are produced in large quantity.

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