Fresh Details Emerge As NEMA Reveals Scale Of Destruction In Umuoba Anam-Aguleri Clash

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that more than 150 houses were destroyed during the communal clash between Umuoba Anam and Aguleri communities in Anambra State last month.

The agency also disclosed that the violence claimed 10 lives and displaced more than 2,000 residents, leaving many families without homes.

The Head of Operations at NEMA’s Enugu Zonal Office, Mrs Priscilla Madukwe, revealed the figures during an impact assessment visit to the affected communities.

The crisis reportedly resulted in extensive destruction of residential buildings, shops, factories, vehicles and other property belonging to residents, including non-indigenes living in the communities.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the Federal Government deployed an assessment team through NEMA to determine the extent of the destruction and identify possible areas of intervention for those affected.

The team, which comprised officials of NEMA and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), was led through the affected areas by the Mayor of Anambra East Local Government Area, Mr Ifeanyi Chinweze, alongside community leaders and security personnel.

Madukwe described the level of destruction as unfortunate and said the agency would submit its assessment findings to the Federal Government for consideration of possible assistance to help victims recover and return to their homes.

She also appealed to community leaders and other stakeholders to work towards resolving the dispute and preventing a recurrence of the violence.

In his remarks, Chinweze assured residents that efforts were ongoing to address the disagreements that led to the crisis. He urged the communities to embrace peace and dialogue, adding that the curfew imposed in the area had helped restore calm.

The council mayor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for sending the assessment team and appealed for relief materials and other forms of assistance to ease the suffering of displaced residents.

Also speaking, the Head of Administration at the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Ndidi Omega, disclosed that the state government had established a committee to investigate the crisis, recommend measures to prevent future violence and propose support for the affected residents.

Despite the passage of more than one month since the clash, the affected communities reportedly remain deserted, with security personnel deployed to maintain peace and order.