A violent clash over land ownership in Anambra State has left two people dead and several others injured following an armed attack in Okpuno-Okochi village in Awka South Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, reportedly stemmed from a dispute between the original landowners and suspected land grabbers, PUNCH reports. According to community sources, the conflict escalated when unknown individuals began encroaching on land belonging to the Osonari family.
Speaking during a press briefing at a local hospital on Thursday, Nze Ekene Obiora, Chairman of the Osonari Family, described the land as ancestral property traditionally reserved for adult male members of the family.
“The land is designated for residential purposes. Family members are allocated plots upon request for home construction, and several people have already been assigned portions,” Obiora said.
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He explained that tensions rose when strangers began fencing and cultivating parts of the land already allocated to family members. “We contacted those assigned the land, but they denied involvement. Then, on Tuesday morning, armed men arrived in an unmarked black Toyota Corolla and opened fire while some of our members were conducting a routine inspection,” he recounted.
The violence prompted an angry reaction from the youths in the community, who reportedly retaliated by targeting families suspected to be involved in the attack, leading to further unrest and property destruction in the community.
Confirming the incident, Anambra State Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said two people were killed and five suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault.
“One automatic pump-action rifle was recovered, and five individuals are currently in police custody undergoing interrogation over the attack that occurred at Okochi-Ime Village in Okpuno,” Ikenga stated.
He added that the deceased have been deposited at the morgue, while those injured are receiving treatment. The police have launched a full investigation, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed additional security measures and is committed to tracking down other suspects still at large,” Ikenga added.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
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