What would have resulted into a bloody clash between the officials of the Department of States Services, DSS, and youths of Ezinkwelle in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area Anambra State was yesterday averted by the elders of the community led by Chief Wilfred Okafor and officials of State Boundary Committee.

The elders and youths of Ezinkwelle had as early as 7am, yesterday, gathered to receive the officials of the State Boundary Committee who were coming for inspection of the boundary between Nnadi village in Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area and Mgbuke village in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, which the Ezinkwelle people are claiming to belong to them and not to any of the warring parties.

However, the officials of the boundary committee on arrival at about 2.30 pm in Ezinkwelle village, with three Police and DSS security vans, made straight to Odo River in Ezinkwelle, not knowing that the people of Ezinkwelle have been waiting for them at Oye village square and on sighting them, the agitated youths made straight to Oye Riverside where the officials parked and were about to start work.

The youths were angry that the boundary commission officials allegedly ignored them and their elders and wanted to inspect their land without involving them, and in the process, there was altercation between them and the DSS officials, which led to shooting into the air by three DSS officials, while other DSS officials and the policemen in the team positioned themselves battle ready, an act that angered the youths the more and they started singing war songs.

The situation was, however, controlled when the Secretary of the State Boundary Commission and the chairman of Ezinkwelle addressed them and explained that Ezinkwelle village was not captured in the map they are using for the inspection and therefore, did not deem it necessary to visit them before doing their work.

Addressing newsmen, chairman of Ezinkwelle village, Chief Wilfred Okafor said: “Nnadi and Mgbuke villages went to the boundary commission even when they are in court with both parties, without letting us know, more so when the boundary they are contesting is in our village where we have lived for over 300 years.”

•Text (excluding headline) sourced from a Vanguard report