The leadership of Neke Youths Association (NYA) has reacted to the alleged manhandling of a journalist, Dr. Dennis Agbo over land disputes, insisting that Neke is not at war with Ikem and vice versa.
In a statement jointly signed by Mr. Ede Chukwuemeka, President General (NYA) and Neke Neighbourhood Watch Group (NNWG), and Mr. Kelvin Chukwuka Ugwu, Secretary General NYA/NNWG, the group reiterated that both Ikem and Neke are so intermingled that there is hardly any family in both communities that do not have blood ties with the other.
Mr Dennis Agbo, an Enugu-based journalist, was said to had reportedly escaped death by the whiskers after he and four other persons were brutally attacked by armed youths allegedly from Neke community in Isi-uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Agbo, who reports for Vanguard Newspapers in Enugu, said he had mobilised four labourers to clear a farmland located at Ugwuokwunele Umuaram in Ikem in the said council area, but on getting to the location, he discovered that some people had built houses on the land.
He said that while he was still trying to find out the owners of one of the houses, about ten boys who were mobilised to the scene descended on them, beating them to stupor.
But, in the statement, entitled: ‘Disregard The Wicked Lies By Dennis Agbo Over His Phantom Crisis Between Neke And Ikem’ the Neke Youths denied the claims declaring that ‘at no time was the said Dennis Agbo or any other Ikem person manhandled by Neke youths’.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an online scandalous publication by one Dennis Agbo from Ikem Umuaram in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State alleging that he was manhandled by the law abiding and peaceful youths of Neke.
“Without fear of contradiction, the leadership of Neke Youths Association wishes to inform the general public that at no time was the said Dennis Agbo or any other Ikem person manhandled by Neke youths.
“As a matter of fact, it was Dennis Agbo who actually invaded a Neke settlement in the early hours of Sunday, 21st April, 2024 with cutlass wielding young men from his village.
“Under the false pretence of seeking to reclaim his late uncle’s land, Mr Dennis Agbo took laws into his hands and provocatively invaded a Neke settlement inhabited by Mr Ellias Ogbu, accusing him of building on a parcel of land belonging to his late uncle.
“Dennis Agbo, a journalist who should know the implications of lawlessness, suddenly invaded a Neke neighbourhood and sought to harass an innocent man over an unfounded and baseless claim.
“According to eye witnesses, the clandestine plot of Dennis Agbo to instigate crisis between the two brotherly communities of Ikem and Neke failed when relatives of his victim, Mr Ellias Ogbu, intervened and prevented him and his gang of misguided youths from carrying out their nefarious act.
“His moonlight stories of kidnapping allegation against the highly responsible Neke Youth Wing is unfounded and misleading, and should be ignored in its entirety. Nothing of such happened as there was no need to dance naked in the market with a mad man.
“We therefore wish to appeal to all men of goodwill in Isi-Uzo and Enugu State at large to caution Dennis Agbo and tell him to stop fanning embers of discord between Ikem and Neke who have so intermingled that there is hardly any family in both communities that do not have blood ties with the other.
“If he feels shortchanged in any way, he should follow due process and channel his grievances to the appropriate quarters.
“It is a well known fact that both Ikem and Neke have traditional rulers of repute as well as community leaders (PGs).
“He should avail himself of such opportunity and stop taking laws into his hands.
“He should understand that dialogue is the best approach in resolving sensitive issues such as land disputes if truly there is any apart from the one already before the court of law.
“The key point here is that Neke is not at war with Ikem and Ikem is not at war with Neke”.
