Yet another life has been claimed in the ongoing communal conflict between the Umuobor community in Akaeze and their Ogwor neighbors in Ishiagu, located in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. A truck driver from Imo State was tragically shot and killed over the weekend along the Ayaragu axis of the Ishiagu/Okigwe expressway by suspected warlords.
This expressway, which has become a hotspot for violence, is caught in the crossfire of a decades-long dispute over a fertile piece of land. The conflict has already claimed numerous lives and led to widespread destruction. Just last month, six individuals were killed in similar attacks by the warlords who continue to block the expressway, targeting motorists and other road users.
In response to the killing, truck drivers from Imo State have threatened to block Okigwe roads, halting the movement of vehicles to and from Ebonyi State. Social media messages are spreading, urging people to stay clear of the area to avoid further bloodshed.
Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed he was unaware of the incident but pledged to investigate. However, there have been no official updates from law enforcement as of now.
This tragic loss highlights the urgent need for lasting peace and resolution in the region to prevent more lives from being lost to this senseless conflict.
