Tension is rising at Igbariam in Anambra East Local Government Area after some youths attacked the two churches in the area, over a prolonged land dispute

The affected churches are The Christ Anglican church and Holy Trinity Catholic church. A priest, Venerable Obiora Igbokwe of Christ Anglican Church, said he narrowly escaped being killed during the incident.

He explained that the attack happened on Sunday when about 25 young men arrived at the church compound on motorcycles and in a white car. According to him, the youths said they came to harvest palm fruits from the settlement, which was originally set up by the old Eastern Nigerian government.
Sensing danger, Igbokwe said he ran into his house with his son and locked all the doors.

The youths then began shouting and singing war songs as they moved into the compound.
“They broke windows and forced their way in. I had to hide under the bed so they wouldn’t see me,” he said.
During the attack, the youths destroyed several items and properties. These included a generator, building materials, livestock like goats and sheep, phones, clothes, and aluminium fittings. They also damaged the church’s water system and destroyed water tanks.

The attackers did not stop there. They also pulled down parts of a school building that was still under construction and damaged another worship area within the compound.
Igbokwe said the problem did not start now. He explained that sometime last year, some youths had earlier pulled down the church fence. On the same day, they also went to the Catholic church nearby and stopped work there, even beating some workers.

Following that incident, the community leadership set up a committee to investigate the issue. Both churches presented their legal documents, including Certificates of Occupancy, and the matter was said to have been settled peacefully.

However, the priest said the situation changed again after a new town union leadership came in earlier this year. Since then, youths have been entering the church compound regularly to harvest palm fruits.
“I have told them many times that this is church property, but they insist it belongs to their forefathers,” he said.

The situation has now created fear and uncertainty in the area as residents are worried.