The Umuobor people of Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, protested on Tuesday against the ongoing killings in a land dispute with Ogwor community.
The latest victim, a woman harvesting cassava, was allegedly killed by suspected warlords, escalating tensions over the Elueke land conflict.
The dispute over Elueke land, known for its fertility, has caused numerous deaths and destruction worth billions of naira.
Despite a 1991 Supreme Court ruling in favor of Umuobor, violence, injuries, and destruction have continued unabated for decades.
Since 2024, the situation has worsened, prompting Governor Francis Nwifuru to declare the area a buffer zone.
The governor also established a committee to seek a lasting resolution to the protracted land conflict.
In February 2024, four individuals, including three Umuobor natives and one Okue woman, were killed while harvesting crops.
In response, Umuobor residents, including widows, youths, and women, organized a mass protest on Tuesday.
Protesters carried placards and marched for hours, decrying the killings and demanding justice for over 100 community members lost.
A grieving widow, Felicia Ajali, narrated how her husband and two children were murdered while harvesting cassava last month.
“This land dispute has destroyed my life. I am pregnant, and now my husband and two children are gone,” she lamented.
Ajali pleaded with Ogwor residents and the government to respect the Supreme Court ruling and end the violence.
Community leader Sylvanus Ibeh condemned the killings, questioning why Ogwor people continued contesting land despite legal rulings.
He lamented that Umuobor has suffered immense losses, including lives, homes, schools, and churches, due to the prolonged conflict.
