The Oso-Edda Development Town Union has issued a strong condemnation following the abduction of one of their indigenes, Mr. Uduma Idam Chima, allegedly by armed groups from the Amasiri community in Ebonyi State.
The incident, which occurred on June 14, 2025, marks the latest episode in an ongoing series of violent confrontations reportedly targeting residents of Oso-Edda in Edda Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists, Ama Aba Emeh, President-General of the union, expressed deep concern over the persistent hostilities despite recent peace initiatives facilitated by Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
"We, the people of Oso-Edda in Edda Local Government Area, condemn the recent attack and abduction of our son, Mr. Uduma Idam Chima, by Amasiri warlords. This incident is particularly painful as it occurred shortly after a peace meeting convened by Governor Francis Nwifuru on April 30, 2025," Emeh stated.
History of Violence
Emeh recounted previous attacks, noting that on April 6, 2025, armed militias allegedly from Amasiri launched an assault that resulted in six fatalities among Oso-Edda residents, including a pregnant woman and her child. The attack also led to the destruction of properties valued at millions of naira.
He further referenced a similar incident from February 5, 2023, when several Oso-Edda farmers were reportedly abducted while working on their farms.
"This is not the first, second, or even third time such attacks have taken place. We are appealing to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, and the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police to act swiftly and decisively. We have remained peaceful because Governor Nwifuru is a peace-loving leader," he added.
Land Dispute at the Core
Ama-Oko Chima, the union's Secretary-General, identified a disputed tract of land as the root cause of the conflict. According to him, the land rightfully belongs to the Oso-Edda people through ancestral inheritance.
"The land in question is ours by ancestral heritage. It is shocking that the Amasiri people, who were once tenants and labourers engaged by our forefathers, are now laying claim to ownership," he explained.
Chima described the claims by the Amasiri community as "malicious and misleading," emphasizing that despite recurring violence, Oso-Edda has never engaged in retaliatory attacks.
"Our commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness. We urge the relevant authorities to intervene urgently before our community is completely overrun," Chima appealed.
Call for Intervention
The Oso-Edda community has called on both state and federal security agencies to take immediate action to prevent further bloodshed and ensure lasting peace in the troubled region.
Attempts to reach representatives of the Amasiri community for comments were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
SP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State Command, confirmed that the command has received reports about the incident and launched an investigation.
"We have received the information, and our officers have commenced investigations to uncover the root cause and to prevent further occurrences of such suspected criminal activities in the area," Ukandu stated.
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