Tension In Enugu Community As Neighbourhood Watch Personnel Teargas Guests, Injure Several Others At Village Ceremony Over Territorial Dispute
Five persons were seriously injured as tensions are rising in Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State as two different neighbourhood watch groups now quarrel over areas of official coverage.
Five persons were seriously injured as tensions are rising in Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State as two different neighbourhood watch groups now quarrel over areas of official coverage.
Umuida and Umuonu are two different communities with different neighbourhood watch groups which were inaugurated on different occasions with their traditional rulers as the chief security officers respectively.
Umuida Neighbourhood Watch Group has, however been invading their Umuonu Neighbourhood group counterpart, claiming that they were not entitled to remain in their own area and protect their residents from attacks by criminals.
On October 25, 2025, the Umuida neighbourhood group once again invaded the neighbouring Unuonu Community, wounding several guests during a ceremony at Emeka Onu's residence at Obollo Umuojobo, Umuonu.
The incident allegedly occured at between 8.30 pm and 9pm. Among those seriously wounded included a prominent member of traditional Igwe's cabinet, Chief Thomas Mamah; Mr Jonas Eze and Miss Onuchukwu Onu, a guest.
According to sources at the Enugu- Ezike Police Station, Ogurute, those who attacked the guests at Umuonu included the leader, Ike Ame; Messrs Uwakwe Ossai a k.a Wakis; Obiora Asogwaja; Ifesinachi Ujah; Ike Abugu and Ifeanyi Ujah among others.
The suspects were alleged to have fired teargas canisters at the guests, causing severe pains, especially on women. Those treated at Ozoemena private hospital in Umuonu were reportedly paid over N300, 000 before they were discharged after about five days of intensive care
Earlier, on October 18, 2025, the personnel of the Umuida Neighbourhood Watch had also attacked guests at Chukwuma Ojobo's compound during his daughter's wedding at Umuonu, destroying 12 plastic chairs rented for the event and a mobile phone belonging to one Sunday Apeh, a member of the neighbourhood watch in Umuonu. They had also, destroyed 17 plastic chairs when they reportedly invaded the Onyishi Umuonu's palace during the burial of his 17 - year old son, also seizing 10 plastic rental chairs on the occasion.
The Chairman of Igboeze North Local Government, Engineer Michael Uche Ogalla, could not be reached on his mobile phone to react to the development and a message sent through his WhatsApp was not answered after several days.
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO,, for Igboeze North, CSP Emmanuel Ameh could also, not be reached for his comments, especially on the use of teargas by neighbourhood groups, even as it was said that policemen are the only paramilitary groups allowed to use teargas as part of their accoutrements.
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