A man and his wife have been abducted in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state, Nigeria’s South-east.
The couple’s abduction followed a crisis between Ezza and Ihe people in Ishiagu community in the local government area of the state.
The incident happened Saturday. Ezza and Ihe people had a disagreement over ownership of farmland which resulted in the crisis.
The couple were said to have been attacked in the farmland, but the identities of the attackers were unclear.
Sources said that trouble started when a male indigene of Ihe was stopped by some boys when he wanted to fetch a pig feed during a burial of a youth in the area.
“It was a personal matter that escalated. So, when they told the man to go back, it resulted in a fight where one person was injured, and the other group went on a rampage, burning a house.
“The police were invited, and some people were arrested. They said that some boys attacked and killed some people in the early hours of Tuesday, and also abducted two people,” said one of the sources, who asked not to be named.
The chairperson of Ivo local government area, Emmanuel Ajah, has confirmed the incident.
Aja said he went to the police to appeal for the release of those arrested and learnt that two people, a couple , had been abducted.
The chairperson said the matter was a personal fracas between Ezza and Ihe people over where they farm, pointing out that some boys hijacked the situation to cause mayhem in the area.
Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki Thursday, Mr Ajah condemned the frequent killings, abductions, arson and reprisals involving the warring towns of Ezza, Ihe and others.
He regretted that innocent residents were bearing the brunt of the clashes.
Premium Times