By Our Correspondent
NO fewer than four persons were Tuesday afternoon allegedly killed in a communal clash between Ukawu and Ishinkwo communities of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The misunderstanding between the two communities have been raging for quite sometime now.
A source close to the affected communities revealed that "the people of Ukawu went in group to the beach to get sand, thinking that today being sit at home, there won't be any problem.
"Unfortunately for them, Ishinkwo people had already laid an ambush for them and so, when they (Ukawu people) got to the beach, Ishinkwo people allegedly opened fire on them."
It was gathered that the corpses of the victims were allegedly taken by their attackers.
The source added, " The people of Ukawu community had on Tuesday, went to a beach which has been causing dispute between the two communities to excavate sand which has been a source of livelihood to the communities, only to be allegedly attacked by the Isinkwo warriors. During the attack, four people were allegedly killed.
"The Ukawu people tried taking advantage of the sit at home order, thinking that the area would be calm not knowing that their opponents had already laid ambush.
"When our people got to the beach, the Isinkwo people opened fire on us and we had to run for our lives. But on getting to our meeting point we discovered that four people were missing.
"Some of us confirmed they saw when they were shot dead and their corpses taken away. The worse was that we were taking unawares. We didn't go with gun because we never anticipated any attack. For sometime now the area has been calm", the source stated.
It was gathered that one of the victims identified as Offor Ujebe, in his mid 30's had three children and the last child was about 9months old while the identity of the other three victims were yet to be ascertained.
Narrating her ordeal on phone, Ujebe's wife who had already lost her voice following the ugly incident noted: "They just called me that I should start coming back to the village from Abakaliki, and I left with my three children. On getting to the village now, they are telling me that my husband went to the beach were they normally work and there was an attack and they are yet to see him till now." She lamented
Investigation revealed that Ukawu people had already mobilized to Isinkwo to demand the corpses of those killed and for possible reprisal.
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