The communal clash between Aku and Ikolo communities in Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state has once again taken a dangerous dimension with the alleged abduction of three young men from Aku community.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the trio were said to have been allegedly abducted by Ikolo community on Friday, August 2, 2024.
It was gathered that the three missing persons; Nnamdi Didigwu, Chibuike Dugwu and Obiora Dugwu were said to have been abducted when they visited Ikolo community.
In a statement released by the Convener of Otobo Nsukka Cultural Group, Comrade Chineme Agu and made available to WITHIN NIGERIA on Monday, the group appealed to the public who can produce meaningful information on the whereabouts of the the missing persons to do so with immediate effect.
The release partly read thus; “We hereby bring to the attention of the general public the following individuals who have been reported missing.
Chibuike Dugwu, one of the missing persons
“NNAMDI DIDIGWU_ from Ofienyi, with phone numbers; 09034357384, CHIBUIKE DUGWU (AMABOKWU village)with phone numbers; 09075498111and OBIORA DUGWU (AMANKPO village) with phone numbers: 08081128208 and 09155369077.
“These three youths from AKu are alleged to have visited Ikolo and have been missing for over three days. We urge anyone with information regarding their whereabouts to come forward and assist in the investigation.
“We are pleased to announce that the Ogbede Police DPO has been fully involved in the investigation and is working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the missing youths.
“Any useful information can be forwarded to him or the following individuals:
“We wish to emphasize that the AKu community is a peace-loving and law-abiding people, and we are committed to resolving this matter through legal and diplomatic means.”
Findings by WITHIN NIGERIA showed that the two communities have been at loggerheads for close to a decade now over boundary issue.
Our reporter gathered that in November 2017, crisis escalated when Ikolo youths blocked major roads, leading to Aku community and allegedly extorting motorists and causing mayhem.
In retaliation, Aku youths invaded Ikolo, burning houses and destroying properties. It took the timely intervention of Enugu state police command to forestall total break down of law and order.
However as the crisis erupted in May 2020 , the Aku community petitioned State Security Services alleging that Ikolo community invading their community.
In a petition dated May 28, 2020, addressed to the director, State Security Services (SSS) by the Aku General Assembly entitled: “Notice of serious security threat of potential communal war between Aku and Ikolo communities over boundary dispute,” alleged that Ikolo community wanted to take their community by force.
Nnamdi Didiugwu, one of the missing persons
The petition which was jointly signed by Osy Okanya, chairman, Aku Peace Committee, Chijioke Ogbobe, secretary and Fidelis Odo, president general, Aku General Assembly, detailed how the lingering boundary dispute, which dates back to 1942, has put the two communities on the brink of war.
Accordingly to the petitioners, the latest round of hostility was sparked off by the demolition of an uncompleted bungalow belonging to Ikechukwu Mbah, an indigene of Aku by hoodlums suspected to be from Ikolo community.
The petition partly read thus; “the situation is causing serious concern to Aku community because it has a high potential of degenerating into a communal conflict between the two sister communities with attendant blood shed.
“It is on the score of this great concern and the civilised nature of Aku community that we wish to bring this situation to the notice of your office with a view to partnering the state government and other security agencies to arrest any consequential possible breakdown of law and order and to seek an amicable solution to this lingering boundary dispute impasse between the two communities.”
In any case, in November 2023, at least 17 houses were burnt by yet-to-identified arsonists at Ikolo.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of a Monday. Though no life was lost, many persons were said to have sustained various injuries.
Many affected houses were completely razed down as community dwellers watched helplessly as their houses and properties were being touched by these arsonists.
One of the youths was said to have explained to newsmen that the youths were alerted but couldn’t do much to avert the ugly incident.
“We gathered, and when we realised that the shots were approaching our area, we took refuge in the bush. We could hear what they were saying. The dialect is that of our neighbouring community.
Dugwu Obiora, another of the missing persons
“They were over fifty. We saw them setting fire to our houses. We could not recognise their faces because it was dark. In my own house, everything is gone. Our three motorcycles are burnt. We stored eleven drums of palm oil. They are gone. The worst part is that my grandmother is missing.”
By and large in the latest incident, Comrade Agu told WITHIN NIGERIA that the three abducted young were said to have gone to Ikolo to obtain local medicine for one of their aging parents when they were abducted.
Comrade Agu: Calls for speedy intervention
Asked if they have been contacted for payment of any ransom. Agu explained that ” we have not had any call from any person with regards to their suspected abduction. All their phones have been switched off and there is no way to know how they are right now. But we believe that they abducted in Ikolo community.”
However, all efforts to get the reaction of the Enugu state police command proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe couldn’t pick his call.
