The protracted land dispute between two neighbouring communities, Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area and Abba in Njikoka LGA of in Anambra State took an ugly dimension over the weekend.

It was gathered that some group of people from Ukpo community allegedly demolished some properties belonging to the State Government and Abba community.

The properties include Abba market, the perimeter fencing protecting Abba Corps members lodge and other structures belonging to Abba.

According to the President General of Ukpo Community, Mr. Onyilagu Vincent, they were reclaiming their properties as directed by the Supreme Court on February 15, 2019.

But the President General of Abba Community, Engr. Bennett Anekwe, claimed that the properties belonged to his community.

Anekwe explained that the Supreme Court had earlier struck out the case following the disappearance of the judgment delivered in the Court of Appeal.

Ukpo Community had won a court case over the ownership of the land but when the matter got to the Supreme Court, it was found that records of the proceedings were missing.

However in January, the Supreme Court gave its position on the matter ordering that “any judgment that the records of proceedings are missing from the trial court cannot be enforced."

As a result, both communities were asked to return to the trial court.

While calling on the state government to intervene, the PG of Ukpo community accused the Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang, of spearheading the crisis.

In his reaction, the Police boss said that it is standard procedure for policemen to be deployed to perceived areas of conflict to forestall breakdown of law and order.

He said that the Abba-Ukpo land dispute is one of the pressing case the police is dealing with, saying: “It is just a matter of two communities with different court positions.

“We are working on something now and in no distant time, we will invite both parties and put an end to this issue. It will be addressed.”

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