Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
The five-year communal crisis in Isuaniocha Community,Awka North Local Government area of Anambra State,has finally been resolved, with the community agreeing to embrace peace for their overall development.
At a general meeting involving the elders, women, youths, and stakeholders, the community also disbanded all youth activities in the town, banning collection of levies in various forests in the area, while a peace committee with the mandate of speaking with all parties involved in the five-year long crises and getting back with recommendations aimed at ensuring lasting peace in Isuaniocha was set up.
The venue of the event, Central School Field Isuaniocha, was filled to capacity with almost every indigene of the community in attendance.
Other resolutions reached included compelling all those building stalls at the Eke Agba Market Square to stop henceforth as the land belongs to Isuaniocha Community and not to any individual; and that those who were already paying rent and levies to private individuals should stop forthwith and pay same to the community until all issues are resolved.
It was the first time the entire people sat together to discuss issues of common interest since 2018 when crisis broke out, leading to the destruction of property and death of some individuals.
The elders and titled men had set the tone for the peace talk as they urged all aggrieved and concerned persons to come out and proffer the way forward for the overall interest of the entire community.
Chief Danatus Anyaegbunem, Chairman of Umelem Village, said the entire community was from one parent and had no reason to get to the point of crisis that drove many people out of the town.
Another respondent, Comrade Innocent Okeke, from Adama Village, while commending those behind the peace meeting, encouraged the people to have forgiving spirit as directed in the Bible.
The people warned all persons and private individuals from neighbouring communities intruding and fanning the embers of crisis in Isuaniocha to desist henceforth as the town was capable of resolving its matter amicably.
Chief Obuka Okoye from Otoko Village and Louis Ndubuife appealed to those whose houses and means of livelihood were destroyed to forgive those involved in the interest of peace and development of the community.
One of the victims, Mr Madiegbuna Igboanyia, who recounted the trauma some of them went through in the last five years, called on the elders, to remove sentiments and ensure that truth was told at all times, as, according to him, that was the only tool to bring about lasting peace.
Another victim, Paulinus Onyeagolu, whose family houses were destroyed and property looted, said they decided to initiate the peace process to put a stop to all the divisive issues.
Chief Onyeagolu, whose younger brother, Tony, was the President General of Isuaniocha when the crisis broke out after his refusal to connive with disgruntled elements to sell the Community Secondary School land in 2018,called on parents to warm their children, youths and relations, to desist from further attacks as such step could puncture the peace and progress being pursued.
The Chairman, Ozor-in-Council, Isuaniocha, Chukwudi Onuorah, while noting that it was the first time the entire community was coming together to embrace peace, expressed the hope that every matter would be resolved so that indigenes and residents would no longer have cause to panic.
The Peace Committee is made up of chairmen and secretaries of all the villages, as well as women’s leaders and other notable persons nominated by the elders and Ozor-in-Council.