The communal crisis in the Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State resurfaced on Wednesday morning as a group of militants burnt down ten houses.
The houses burnt belonged to the late traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Mba; former local government chairman, Ejike Ani and his younger brother, Agozie Ani.
The warring group also shot and killed one man in his house on Christmas Day.
Recall that no fewer than 11 persons, including the former traditional ruler of the Oruku community, Igwe Emmanuel Mbah and other personalities in the community, have been eliminated due to the conflict.
In April 2021, the Justice Harold Eya-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry, constituted by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to investigate and ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the communal crisis in the Oruku Community, submitted its report to the governor.
Gov. Ugwuanyi, in the wake of the Oruku crisis, which led to the killing of the traditional ruler of the community, late Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba, inaugurated the 5-man panel intending to find lasting peace in the area and prevent a similar crisis in future.
Submitting the report, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Eya, expressed optimism that the findings and recommendations of the panel will go a long way to bring lasting peace and security in Oruku, pointing out that “this is yet another peace-building initiative of Your Excellency in Oruku Community of Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State”.
He added that the Commission’s report is the beginning of another phase in the annals of the ethnographic configuration known as Oruku Community, stressing that “our gathering here will turn out to be the beginning of a new phase of the community’s corporate existence”.
Justice Eya disclosed that “the Oruku crisis was a matter of ego tussle among the elites that brought the youth and tore them apart”.
Receiving the report, Gov. Ugwuanyi expressed delight that the Commission has completed its assignment within the remit of its terms of reference.
The governor said that his administration would expeditiously and diligently study the report and accept and implement it as appropriate.
He hoped that the findings and recommendations of the Commission and the meaningful government action would restore peace and order to the community.
