Communal clashes: Ebonyi council boss, Ekuma reads riot act to two villages

<p>The Chairman of Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prince Chima Ekuma on Thursday read the riot act to two villages in the council- Amaeta and Ogiri.</p>, <p>DAILY POST reports that the two villages have been involved in intractable communal clashes.</p>, <p>Ekuma, however, declared a buffer zone, the disputed land behind the crisis between the people of Amaeta and Ogiri villages.</p>, <p>The Chairman gave the warning while addressing the stakeholders of Amaeta and Ogiri villages during a meeting at Edda North Development Centre secretariat, Oso Edda, on Thursday.</p>, <p>He further warned that any native that violated the directive would be severely dealt with by security agencies.</p>, <p>According to him: “By the power conferred on me as Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, where these two neighbouring villages are located, I hereby declare the land in dispute a buffer zone, from now onwards.</p>, <p>“It means no native from either Amaeta village or Ogiri village should enter into the area, for farming or any other activity until further notice.</p>, <p>“Take this decision very seriously. Don’t taste the waters. Don’t try the government. If anybody goes against this order, I will instruct the security agencies to deal with such a person. It’s in your own best interest not to violate this directive,” he stated.</p>, <p>Meanwhile, leaders of the two ‘warring’ villages have signed an undertaking to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the area.</p>, <p>The undertaking was signed by Chief Uduma Agwu and Mr Clement Eze for Amaeta village, as well as Chief Ude Orji and Osuu Ama Okoro for Ogiri village.</p>