10 Killed or Missing, 2,000 Displaced in Anambra Communal Clash — NEMA

​At least 10 persons have either been killed or declared missing, while about 2,000 residents have been displaced following a violent communal clash between Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed.
​The agency also revealed that no fewer than 150 houses—alongside shops, factories, vehicles, and a traditional ruler’s palace—were destroyed during the October crisis, leaving the affected areas largely deserted over a month later despite the deployment of security operatives.
​Head of Operations at the NEMA Enugu Zonal Office, Priscilla Madukwe, gave the figures on Saturday while leading a joint assessment team of NEMA and Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials to the devastated communities. The team was accompanied by the Chairman of Anambra East LGA, Ifeanyi Chinweze, community leaders, and security personnel.
​Speaking during the inspection, Madukwe explained that the Federal Government deployed the team to evaluate the scale of destruction and determine appropriate relief interventions for affected residents.
​“No fewer than 150 houses were destroyed during the communal clash that occurred in Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities in October. Similarly, about 2,000 persons were displaced while 10 persons were either killed or declared missing during the crisis in the affected areas,” she said.
​“The destruction prompted the Federal Government, through NEMA, to visit the affected communities to evaluate the extent of damage, with a view to assisting the victims. The level of damage is unfortunate. Our findings will be submitted to the Federal Government for possible assistance to the victims to enable them to return to their homes.”
​Madukwe urged community leaders and stakeholders to resolve their differences and prevent a recurrence of the violence.
​In his remarks, the Anambra East LGA Chairman, Ifeanyi Chinweze, noted that an existing curfew had helped restore calm to the area and appealed to residents to embrace peace and dialogue. He commended the Federal Government for the intervention and expressed optimism that relief materials would soon reach the displaced victims.
​Also speaking, the Head of Administration at SEMA, Ndidi Omega, disclosed that the state government—which earlier convened a high-level peace meeting led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo in Awka—had constituted a committee to investigate the crisis, recommend preventive measures, and propose support packages for victims.