Commercial and vehicular activities were paralysed on Monday in Onitsha, Anambra State, when youths from neighbouring communities of Onitsha and Obosi clashed over the ownership of strips of land along the Onitsha – Owerri expressway.
About 20 people were badly injured with machete cuts and other dangerous weapons that were freely used in the clash, while a bus belonging to Onitsha youths was burnt.
There has been a cold war between Onitsha and Obosi communities in the state over pieces of land on their borders.
The state government had had to establish an army formation in the border after hostilities became uncontrollable in the past.
The youths had barricaded the busy Onitsha–Owerri Expressway during the clash, leaving behind them serious traffic that took several hours for security agents to clear.
The two communities have often disputed the ownership of the land on which the Metallurgical Training Institute is located.
Incidentally, Monday’s clash took place right in front of the institute.
The Police Area Commander in charge of Onitsha, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, who led the police team to stop the clash, said the police had been able to restore peace in the area.
He said there was no record of death but confirmed that a bus belonging to Onitsha youths was burnt by angry Obosi youths.
He also noted that the leaders of the two communities had been called to prevail on their youths to embrace peace and stop further breakdown of law and order.
Incidentally, the traditional rulers of Obosi and Onitsha, Chidubem Iweka and Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe respectively, were both at a function with other traditional rulers in the state in Awka, where the state government presented them with new Sport Utility vehicles.
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