Story by Osuta Yusuf
Yumbe District
Over hundreds and thousands of mourners gathered on Wednesday, 4th September 2024, to condole and pay their last respects to Mr. Luka Akile Fendru from the Oluba Aliba Clan.
Born in 1930, Mr. Luka Akile Fendru was shot with an arrow on 19th August 2024 during a land conflict in Bolomoni Village, Odravu West Sub-county, Yumbe District, where some people from the Oluba Langi clan in Ariwa Sub-county and also from Kulikulinga Town are claiming part of his 600 acres of land in Bolomoni Village.
The parish priest of Odravu Catholic Parish, Fr. Tom Amati Walter, preached for peace to reign and urged people to set aside small differences that tend to divide and cause hatred.
Mr. Anguyo Bosco, a son of the deceased landlord, narrated the history of their 600 acres of land in Bolomoni Village, emphasizing their legitimate ownership. He described his murdered father, Mr. Luka Akile Fendru, as a kind, generous, and peaceful person throughout his life.
The Aringa Kingdom representative at the funeral, Mr. Aka Brann, addressed the mourners and the conflicting parties, communicating the Kingdom’s stance regarding this land wrangle. He stated that jailing people for the capital offenses committed in this incident would not be the solution. Instead, dialogue, peace, and reconciliation would bring sanity and a lasting solution to the problem between the Oluba Aliba Clan in Odravu West Sub-county and the Oluba Langi Clan in Ariwa Sub-county.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Stephen Ojok, the Officer in Charge of Yumbe District, stated that they have deployed security officers in the area and engaged residents in brief community barazas to sensitize and urge them to live in harmony.
Following the bloody land conflict, where two people from the Oluba Langi Clan and one person from the Oluba Aliba Clan were killed, the concerned stakeholders, including the RDC, DISO, politicians, police, the Aringa Kingdom, and clergy, have scheduled 12th September 2024 for a comprehensive dialogue, land dispute resolution, and reconciliation between the two clans.