Movement of vehicles and passengers along the Enugu Abakaliki expressway were Tuesday halted following a heavy shooting at the Ezilo axis of the highway by gunmen.
It could not immediately ascertain those responsible for the shootings as at the press time but two persons were earlier reported to had been killed in a renewed boundary dispute between Ezillo community and their neighboring Iyionu community in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi state.
Governor David Umahi confirmed the killing after the state security council meeting.
He blamed a serving Councillor from Ezillo Community for the crisis, alleging that the said councilor took expatriate investors to a disputed land which the government had earlier declared a buffer zone.
It could not be immediately established if the shooting was connected with the dispute.
A passenger, Afam Cyprian, who was traveling to Enugu said travelers have been stranded at Okpoto for about one hour.
He said Military patrol vans were patrolling the highway but have told them not to advance.
“Many people are looking for another route to take. Some have gone back to take Afikpo road. I am looking for a way to go back to Abakaliki”,
he said.
Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident to journalists.
She said the Police Commissioner, Aliyu Garba, has dispatched police patrol teams to restore peace and open up the road for users.
She, however, said the shooting cannot be related to the boundary dispute as the disputed area is not close to the highway.
