By VINCENT UJUMADU
THERE is an uneasy calm in the sleepy community of Umunkwo Ogbakuba in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, following weekend’s forceful entry by people believed to be from neighbouring Osomala into a disputed land between the two communities.

An eye witness told Vanguard yesterday that the people were taken aback when Osomala people, accompanied by heavily armed mobile policemen and thugs, went into the disputed land with bulldozers and caterpillars and started destroying crops and economic trees.

The witness  added that the intervention of some elders in the community prevented what would have been a bloody showdown, as the youths of Umunkwo were ready to confront them.

When Vanguard visited the disputed land yesterday, the effect of the bulldozers and caterpillars was very noticeable as palm trees, banana, cassava and other economic crops destroyed during the invasion were yet to be carted away.

The Ajie of Umunkwo, Chief Joseph Ifejika, who is the second in command to the traditional ruler of the community, told Vanguard at Ogbakuba that though they prevailed on the youths of the community not to join issues with the invaders, Umunkwo community would never allow Osomala people to take their inheritance from them.

He said: “Osomala people started laying claim to the land which belongs to Umunkwo in 1981 when the people woke up one morning and discovered that police signposts were placed on our land. We reported the matter to the police at Atani and the police prevailed on them to remove the signs.

“They (Osamala people) later went to court and obtained judgment in their favour at an Onitsha High Court. But not satisfied with the judgment, we appealed at the Court of Appeal in Enugu and the judgment of the lower court was upturned in our favour in 2006.”

“After one year, Osomala people took the matter to the Supreme Court and the matter is still pending, only for them to forcefully enter into the land with security operatives and thugs on a day everybody was preparing to participate in the voters’ registration exercise.

“As law abiding citizens, our people did not attack them when they came, especially when the case is still in court. But we will never allow the legacy bequeathed to us by our fore fathers to be taken from us forcefully.”