BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA— Anambra State government has set up a committee to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis rocking the two communities of Owerri Ezukala and Ogbunka in Orumba South local government area, which has claimed two lives and property worth millions of naira.

The peace committee came on the heels of the visit of the member representing Orumba North and South in the House of Representatives, Chief Ben Nwankwo, to the troubled area weekend during which he promised to table the issue before the National Assembly.

The two communities have been fighting over a piece of land rich in precious stones since the past 14 years, climaxing in last week’s showdown that led to the death of the two persons and burning down of the Boys Secondary School, Owerri Ezukala, just as no fewer than eleven persons wounded during the clash had been admitted in hospitals.

The entire Ogbunka community had been deserted, following the arrest of about 45 persons allegedly involved in the burning of the secondary school and some private houses in Owerri Ezukala, while the area had been cordoned off by the police. Some of those arrested have also been charged to court in Awka.

Nwankwo, who visited the two communities at the weekend, said he would appeal to his colleagues in the National Assembly to see the need for the federal government to intervene in the matter through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

The federal lawmaker, after touring the area with security operatives said: “I am worried. Our people are worried and sad. What I have seen is not the kind of thing we expect to be seeing in Orumba.

”The destruction is too much and I will bring up the issue as a matter of urgent national importance when I get back to the national assembly. Before then, I will meet the relevant bodies, including officials of the state government and the commissioner of police to find out details of the clash.

”Many people have become refugees here and this is why something has to be done urgently to assist those who have been displaced.”

Meanwhile, the five – member peace committee set up by the Anambra State has swung into action. Chairman of the committee, His Royal Highness, Igwe Peter Ezeamama who is the traditional ruler of Enugwu Umuonyia and other members of the committee have held discussions with the head of service of Orumba South local government area, Mr. George Arinze who gave them terms of reference.

Vanguard recalls that despite the presence of the police who mounted road blocks in the area, some people went into the secondary school at 3.00 pm on June 23, 2011 and set fire on some of the buildings in the schools. They returned the following day and burnt the principal’s office and the Youth Corps members’ lodge and some houses in the village, one of which belongs to a police inspector based in Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Patrick Ikwuagwu. On their third visit, they burnt the remaining buildings in the college.

All the science and laboratory equipment and computers recently supplied to the school by the state government were either looted or burnt.

Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Hilary Ukomadu said that the school has relocated to a primary school in the area where the students are presently taking their examinations, while officials of the school operate in their private vehicles.