There was crisis in Oyi Loal Government Area of Anambra State at the weekend following a boundary dispute between Ezi Nkewelle and Osile Ogbunike communities.
Hoodlums reportedly working for one of the communities had blocked the road to stop the other party from taking possession of the slaughter market; one vehicle was damaged in the process.
Chairman of Ezi Nkwelle, Chief Wilfred Okafor, said they were prevented from taking possession of the slaughter market land given to them by the State Boundary committee and court judgments.
He said: “When we arrived at the place on February 11, we met armed policemen stationed there and they started shooting sporadically which made us scamper for safety.
“Why will the same police that protected us on February 3 when we first came to take possession of the land now turn against us?
“We wonder why the government is keeping quiet over the matter even after paying our own bills as they requested for demarcation and monuments.”
Okafor called for government’s intervention by erecting the monument as promised after its ruling on the land.
It was gathered that some traders were injured, while others lost their goods and cash amounting to N30 million when suspected hoodlums attacked the slaughter market last week.
Police spokesperson Haruna Mohammed said the police did not stop anybody from executing court order, but responded to a distress call of imminent breakdown of law and order.
“The timely intervention of the police calmed the situation leading to restoration of normalcy and free flow of traffic,” he said.
