By Ebele Ndudi
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has called
representatives of Aguleri and Umuoba Anam to an emergency peace and security
meeting after renewed violence between the communities left people dead and
property destroyed.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at
Government House, Awka, is intended to address the causes of the long-running
dispute and seek a lasting settlement between the two communities.
Soludo’s intervention comes after the latest clash prompted
the state government to close the popular Otuocha Market indefinitely,
reflecting concerns over the wider impact of the violence on residents and
economic activity.
According to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press
Secretary, Christian Aburime, the meeting will bring key stakeholders from both
communities together to present their concerns and pursue a peaceful
resolution.
The governor has directed the communities to stop all
hostilities immediately, maintain peace and exercise restraint while the state
government works towards resolving the issues behind the renewed confrontation.
Soludo also warned that violence, bloodshed and destruction
had no place in Anambra State, expressing deep concern over the deaths and
injuries reported during the latest clash between the neighbouring communities.
Rather than allowing competing claims to fuel further
confrontation, the governor directed that grievances and demands should be
formally presented through the designated stakeholders at the scheduled meeting
in Awka.
“All grievances, claims, and presentations must be
channelled exclusively through their designated stakeholders at the upcoming
Awka meeting,” the statement said, setting out the process for addressing the dispute.
Security agencies, including the police, have meanwhile been
fully deployed to the affected area, with instructions to maintain law and
order, protect residents and property, and prevent the situation from
escalating further.
The government’s response comes against the backdrop of a
dispute that has persisted between the communities, with the latest violence
raising fresh concerns about security, livelihoods and the safety of residents
in Anambra East.
Soludo reassured residents that his administration remained
committed to protecting lives and property while pursuing peaceful solutions to
communal disputes, saying the state would continue to use dialogue rather than
violence to resolve such conflicts.
The governor’s planned meeting places community leaders and
other stakeholders at the centre of efforts to prevent another confrontation,
while security personnel remain deployed to contain tensions and protect
affected communities.
For residents, the immediate priority is an end to the
violence and a return to normal life, particularly around Otuocha Market, whose
closure has disrupted a major centre of commercial activity in the area.
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