Anambra community declares 4 days mourning, shutdown markets, over youth killed for communal land crisis

  

Okechukwu Onuegbu

Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area, Monday, declared four days mourning with respect to the youth of the community killed last week over communal land crisis.

It would be recalled that about 4 youth of Enugwu-Ukwu were killed last week by some people suspected to be from Nawfia, also in Njikoka LGA, following a disputed land.

The Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu, Igwe Ralph Ekpe, who declared the mourning in a statement, explained that it would start today, Monday 16th to 19th September, 2024 from 6am to 6pm and also involved restrictions of movements within the community. 

Ekpe, who did not reveal numbers of people killed at the attack last Monday (9th September) at Agu Isonye, explained that the mourning would offer them time for meditation and to plead with God.

"To console those who lost their loved ones in this senseless act of lawlessness and inhumanity, and to meditate in our hearts and pray that such calamity does not befall us again," he stated .

The mourning, would according to the monarch, include shutdown of markets and shops at Nkwo markets and streets and shops along the road, restrictions of movements to those going to hospitals, places of work and worships.

It also include complete solemn, sober, and sombre but vigilante groups would maintain 24 hours patrols on all roads and streets, and Enugwu-Ukwu in diapora are encouraged to join in meditation over that.