Peace Returns to Anambra Community Years After Disagreement Over Sale Of Community School Land
The people of Isuaniocha Community, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra have resolved to embrace peace years after years of intractable crisis caused by a disagreement over plot by some people in connivance with outsiders plotted to sell part of the Community School in 2018.
The people made the resolution at a meeting of elders of the community, women, youths, and other stakeholders held at the open ground of Isuaniocha Community Secondary School on Saturday.
The all encompassing meeting was the first since the 2018 crisis which led to wanton destruction of life property broke out.
Some of the resolutions made included the banning of all youth activities in the town as well as collection of levies in various forests in the area.
They directed stoppage to construction works at the Eke Agba market square stalls while those who were already paying rent and levies to private individuals should stop.
“They are now pay same to the community until all issues are resolved because the land belongs to Isuaniocha Community and not to any individual”.
They used the medium to send strong warning to private individuals and those occupying public offices from neighboring communities to stop intruding into Internal affairs of the community to fan the embers of crisis in Isuaniocha.
The people then set up a Peace Committee with the mandate to speak with all parties involved in the five years long crises and submit a report with recommendations aimed at ensuring lasting peace in Isuaniocha.
The Peace Committee is made up of Chairmen and Secretaries of all the villages as well as Women leaders and other notable upright persons nominated by the elders and Ozor in Council.
The Elders and Ndi Ozor set the tone for the peace talks abd opened the floor for all aggrieved and concerned persons to bare their minds and proffer solutions they felt could bring back peace in the town.
Chief Danatus Anyaegbunem , Chairman Umelem village said members of Community were of the same parentage and had no reason fighting themselves to death and running others out of town.
Another respondent, Comrade Innocent Okeke,from Adama village , commended those behind the peace meeting and encouraged the people to forgive each other as the Holy Bible directed all men as a condition for being forgiven by God.
Chief Obuka Okoye from Otoko village, and Luise Ndubuife appealed to those whose houses and means of livelihood were destroyed to forgive those involved in the interest of peace and development of the community.
One of the victims of the crises , Mr Madiegbuna Igboanyia recounted the trauma some of them went through in the last five years and called on the elders to remove sentiment and ensure that truth was said at all times.
Mr Paulinus Onyeagolu whose family houses were destroyed with property looted said they decided to initiate the peace process to put a stop to all the issues which did nobody any good.
Chief Onyeagolu whose younger brother, Tony was the President General of Isuaniocha when the crisis broke out in 2018 called on parents to warm their children, youths and relations to desist from further attacks in order not to truncate the peace building process.
Crisis broke out in Isuanocha after some sons of the Community conspired with some people from outside to sell a large expanse of land within the premises of Isuaniocha Community Secondary School ILin 2018.
This plot did not go down well with Chief Tony Onyeagolu who was the President General at the time.
Onyeagolu refusal made the plotters to conspire against him which eventually led to his running out of the town for about five years.
