COMMUNAL CLASH: EBONYI STATE GOVT TO SET PANEL OF INQUIRY
Reporter : AMECHI ODO
Ebonyi State Government is to set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry as part of its response to the recent violent clash and destruction of lives and property between the people of Effuim and Ezza Effium Communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
Governor David Umahi made the pronouncement while addressing Internally Displaced Persons and some stakeholders of the warring communities at Effium Central School.
He directed the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, to liaise with the Attorney General of the State, Mr. Cletus Ofoke, to recommend to the state government within three days on the composition of the panel.
Chief Umahi expressed sadness about the level of violence sparked up by mere leadership tussle in a motor park and directed that it should be sealed while collection of tolls from vehicles in Effium had been banned henceforth.
The Governor directed the State Attorney General to obtain a court order to further detain political office holders from the communities who were already in police custody till normalcy returned.
Governor Umahi noted that he was aware that the crisis was a struggle over who controlled Effium community ahead of 2023 Election and appealed to displaced persons to return to their homes.
A youth from the area, Mr. Shedrack Nwaite, blamed the crisis on alleged struggle for political supremacy between two political gladiators from Effium and Ezza Effium and informed the Governor that the killings had not abated.
A community leader, Chief Fidelis Agila, explained that the people of Effium and Ezza Effuim had been living peacefully with each other until 2002, noting that youths from one of the warring communities always cashed in on flimsy incidents to unleash mayhem on the people from the other side.
However, there was a mild drama at the event when the Special Assistant to the Governor on Motor Parks Development, Mr Emma Igwe, who was among political office holders arrested by the Commissioner of Police few days ago appeared to respond to some issues that bothered on reconstitution of Effuim Park Caretaker Committee which allegedly led to the crisis.
Governor Umahi who was surprised to see him sought to know who released him from detention and ordered the Police boss to rearrest him immediately.