Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the longstanding issues surrounding the Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam communities in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
In a Facebook post by the governor on Thursday, the panel is expected to submit its report within four months, a resolution agreed upon after he met with stakeholders from both sides of the longstanding crisis.
Soludo met with each party as well as representatives of neighbouring communities, including Umueri and the wider Anam clan following a week-long dispute over land and boundaries, where no fewer than five were killed and infrastructure destroyed.
The Idigo Palace, the traditional palace of Aguleri’s monarch, Igwe Michael Idigo, was among the properties destroyed during the renewed violence.
Speaking at the meeting, the governor said, “I am deeply pained by the loss of innocent lives, including that of a minor.
“The destruction of property and the desecration of our traditional institution, the Idigo Palace, is an affront to everything we hold sacred as Ndi Anambra. It is unacceptable.
“Let me be very clear: No community has the right to take lives or resort to self-help. Government will not tolerate any further breakdown of law and order in that area.“
According to the governor, the stakeholders agreed to an immediate and total cessation of hostilities between the parties while directing the rebuilding of the Palace, describing it as a symbol of the state’s heritage, identity and traditional authority.
He noted that the commission of inquiry would review historical complaints, petitions and other issues linked to the crisis in a bid to address the underlying disputes.
He also ordered security agencies to maintain a full presence in the affected communities and vowed that persons found responsible for killings and destruction of property would be arrested and prosecuted.
The governor further tasked traditional rulers and Presidents-General in the affected communities with taking a more proactive role in managing communal disputes before they escalate into violence.
He said security agencies had been directed to maintain their presence in the affected communities to enforce the ceasefire and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“Justice must be served,” Soludo said, adding that all persons involved in the killings and destruction would be identified, arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
The governor said his administration would remain “fair, firm, and just” in its handling of the crisis and work towards restoring lasting peace to the affected communities.
