Tension has gripped Oso-Edda community in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after a middle-aged man, identified as Dick Nnachi, was gruesomely beheaded in a lingering land dispute.

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident on Sunday, August 31, 2025. According to the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, one suspect has already been arrested in connection with the killing.

Ukandu explained that the attack is tied to a long-standing boundary conflict between Oso-Edda and the Amasiri community in neighbouring Afikpo Local Government Area. The land tussle has reportedly stretched for over a decade, despite several interventions.

“I can confirm that it happened. We’ve already deployed our men to the area. This is a communal issue that has been going on for years. The government is still working on demarcating the land, and stakeholders have been warned to stay away from the disputed area,” Ukandu said.

He added that calm has since returned to the area, though investigations are still ongoing.

The killing has once again highlighted how unresolved land disputes in communities across the country often spiral into deadly violence, leaving behind fear, grief, and calls for lasting solutions.