Umuoba Anam Youths Raise Alarm Over Threat Of Fresh Attack By Aguleri
The Umuoba Anam Youth Council in Anambra East Local Government Area says it has gathered credible intelligence that some Aguleri youths are plotting to attack the community again in defiance to the peace pact.
The council in a Statement on Saturday said the plotters of the fresh attack have threatened to confront Nigerian Army personnel deployed to Anambra East if they failed to pull out.
A land related communal war broke out between Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities on Oct. 1 with lives lost and property destroyed already.
The Statement, signed by Mr Onyebuchi Mmeh and Mr Mmeze Nweke, the President General and Secretary respectively of the council warned that such actions could undermine ongoing efforts to restore peace in the communities.
It alleged that a WhatsApp voice note attributable to an unidentified indigene of Aguleri had questioned the presence of military personnel at a checkpoint along the road leading to Ama-Igwè Aguleri.
“The speaker threatened a possible confrontation with soldiers should they refuse to vacate the area and allow them launch an attack on Sunday, October 4, 2026,” it said.
The Umuoba Anam Youth Council described the statements as disturbing and capable of undermining the peace process, particularly at a time when security agencies were being deployed to prevent further escalation of the longstanding communal dispute.
The youth council called on the Anambra government and relevant security authorities to investigate the recording and take appropriate action against anyone responsible for inciting violence and threatening personnel on lawful duty.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any plan or statement aimed at confronting the Nigerian Army or sabotaging the ongoing peace efforts.
“As government and security agencies are working to de-escalate tensions, nobody should be allowed to deliberately drag our communities back into violence,” it said.
They further disclosed that despite a heightened military presence in Umuoba Anam in the wake since the crisis deepened, the community had refrained from any confrontation with them. “Despite the fact that some of our people were arrested and others sustain injuries from gunshots fired by military personnel on peace-keeping in our community, we have refrained from any sign of hostility towards them. And that’s because we are genuinely committed to the peace process and have always preferred dialogue to war. We are therefore urging our brothers from Aguleri to refrain from further attacks on us or security operatives enforcing peace in Otuocha.
According to the council, the presence of the Army should be seen as part of the effort to protect lives, maintain order and prevent further bloodshed.
“We urge our people not to engage security personnel or take any action that could turn a fragile situation into another cycle of violence.
“We appeal to the government to establish the facts and issues contained in the voice note, including the identity of the speaker and the circumstances surrounding any reported casualties,” he said
Umuoba Anam Youths said they remained committed to peaceful dialogue and would continue to cooperate with the government, traditional institutions and security agencies to restore stability in the area.
“We want peace, and we will continue to support every genuine effort aimed at achieving lasting peace.
‘What we cannot support is any attempt by individuals, regardless of their community, to sabotage that process through threats, incitement or violence.
“We therefore call on government and relevant agencies to urgently assess the contents of the voice note in circulation, strengthen measures to prevent violence and ensure that individuals found to have breached the law are dealt with through due process.
“We appeal to community leaders and young people on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid inflammatory statements capable of worsening tensions.
“Nobody should do anything that will cost another family a life or destroy the progress already made toward peace,” it said.
