By Our Reporter
Fear and tension have gripped Ngwogwo Community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, after several women were allegedly attacked while working on their farms in a disputed boundary area.
The community has now appealed to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to intervene urgently and prevent the long-running land dispute with neighbouring Mpu Community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State from escalating into a wider conflict.
In a seven-page petition dated June 17, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Roy O. U. Nwaeze, on behalf of the Ngwogwo Community Development Union, the community alleged that the attack occurred on June 12 while women were carrying out their normal farming activities on the disputed land.
According to the petition, six women were assaulted during the incident. Two of them reportedly sustained severe injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment, while others suffered varying degrees of injuries.
Beyond the physical injuries, the victims were said to have lost food items, farming tools and personal belongings during the attack.
For many residents, the incident was more than a clash over land. Community leaders described it as another painful chapter in what they called years of intimidation and harassment allegedly suffered by Ngwogwo people over ownership of the disputed area.
“Our people have remained peaceful despite repeated provocations,” the community stated, adding that it has consistently urged residents not to take the law into their own hands but instead rely on government authorities to resolve the matter.
The latest incident has heightened concerns among residents, many of whom depend on farming for their livelihood. Community leaders warned that continued attacks could discourage farmers from accessing their lands, threatening food production and economic activities in the area.
The petition also sheds light on the historical roots of the dispute.
According to Ngwogwo elders, the relationship between the two communities stretches back generations. They claimed that the ancestors of present-day Mpu settlers were originally accommodated on land provided by Ngwogwo forefathers as part of a peace agreement symbolised by the historic Ogbu Tree, a landmark still recognised by both communities.
The community said traditional boundaries were marked by natural features, including Otimkpu Stream in Amachara Hamlet and Okpara River in Amaedim Hamlet, which they insist have long served as the accepted dividing line between both communities.
Ngwogwo further claimed that it remains the custodian of traditional rites and oath-taking ceremonies associated with the ancient covenant of brotherhood between the two communities.
To support its claims, the community cited the case of a farmer, Mr. Ude, popularly known as “Ude Nwa Oduma,” who it said had occupied part of the land for over 50 years while paying customary ground rent to a Ngwogwo family. It also claimed to possess documentary evidence of land transactions and rent payments.
Concerned about the growing tension, the community has urged Governor Nwifuru to direct the Ebonyi State Boundary Committee to investigate the dispute and work with the Enugu State Government to establish a joint fact-finding and boundary verification committee.
It also called for the involvement of security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to investigate the alleged attack on the women and ensure the safety of farmers in the area.
Among other requests, the community wants an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened and a permanent, legally recognised boundary established to end years of uncertainty.
While reiterating its commitment to peaceful coexistence, Ngwogwo leaders expressed frustration that a similar appeal submitted to the Deputy Governor’s Office in June 2025 has yet to yield a lasting solution.
Residents now hope that swift government intervention will not only deliver justice for the injured women but also prevent the dispute from developing into a larger communal crisis capable of straining relations between Ebonyi and Enugu communities.
