By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

One person has been confirmed dead with scores of villagers injured in a fresh Communal land dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam both in Anambra East local government area of Anambra state.

Information reaching News Express which is yet has it that the Micro Finance Bank at Aguleri was burnt during the clash but the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, dismissed the report.

The two communities are notorious for communal dispute dating back to 1999 which led to the intervention of the then administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to information gathered, Amaze – Aguleri village had given part of its land to the Umuoba Anam Community on trust many decades ago and it was gathered that the community allegedly began to lay claim to the ownership of the said land.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Command said that one person died, while scores of people sustained various degrees of injury.

The Command further stated that officers and men have already been deployed to maintain peace, law and order in the area.

A former member that represented Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief and candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2027 general election, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe, has already intervened in the communal clash and has commenced dialogue with the leadership of the two warring communities.

According to a statement from his office, Obidigwe decried the latest clash, noting that war is an ill wind that blows no one any good.

He said: "My brothers and sisters, I am deeply concerned and saddened by the disturbing developments arising from the dispute between Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam, including alleged reports of casualties.

"My heart goes out to every family and individual affected.

“I passionately appeal to our people on both sides to remain calm and resist further violence. This matter must be brought to the roundtable and resolved peacefully with immediate effect. It must not be allowed to escalate.

“Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam are neighbours, brothers and communities bound by history and common interests. This particular dispute is between two villages—one in Anam and one in Aguleri. It must never be allowed to become a conflict between the entire Anam and Aguleri communities.

“Whenever a disagreement arises between two individuals, kindreds or villages, our collective duty is to seek immediate peaceful resolution—not to escalate it into a wider communal confrontation."

While warning that anyone who escalates this dispute from either Aguleri or Anam or portrays it as a war between the entire Anam and Aguleri communities is acting against the peace, unity, and interests of our communities

Obidigwe said that one who has something to lose never choose violence as an alternative.

He added: “I therefore urge the leaders, elders, stakeholders of our communities, and relevant authorities to intervene urgently, engage both sides in sincere dialogue, and pursue peaceful resolution towards restoring lasting peace.

"For the sake of our mothers, our children and generations, yet unborn, let dialogue prevail over violence, reconciliation over retaliation, and peace over conflict."