BY TONY EDIKE

…As fresh killing occurs
ENUGU—The rescheduled peace talks between warring Oruku and Umuode in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State, Tuesday, suffered a setback as the meeting was shelved at the instance of Umuode people who complained of lack of security.

The community, Vanguard learnt, expressed fears that Amagunze, the council headquarter, venue of the meeting, was not safe enough to hold such talks and suggested that another venue be chosen either in Emene or Enugu

The absence of the former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, who is said to have traveled out of the country, scuttled the meeting as the Umuodes said the dialogue must wait until he returned to the country to personally speak for his community.

Chairman of the local government and convener of the meeting, Mr. Sam Iyiogwe, said the parties had expressed fears that they might be attacked on the way to the meeting but the council assured them that adequate security arrangements had been made to escort them from the point of departure to the meeting venue, but in spite of the assurance, they called to say they won’t attend.

Asked if the parties are willing to embrace the fresh peace overtures since the meetings had been frustrated several times, Iyiogwe said: “I have a conviction that everyone in Oruku and Umuode is tired of fighting, I can feel it and I can see it, but possibly there may be some ego working and powers are influencing men negatively but we will overcome it.

But the Umuodes raised an alarm Monday over the alleged killing of a native, Mr. Chijioke Nnaji and wounding of others by the people of Oruku, who attacked them during a burial ceremony. It was alleged that Nnaji was shot dead while attending the burial of one Chief Uwadiegwu Moses Edeh at Eziobodo village Umuode last Friday.

Chairman, Umuode Town Union, Mr. Emmanuel Omaba, told newsmen in Enugu that the attack occurred less than two weeks after a recent bombardment of Umuode community before Easter.