EBONYI COMMUNAL CLASH: 25 DEAD, 125 HOUSES BURNT

Reporter: AMECHI ODO

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says twenty-five persons have been killed in the on going clashes in Effuim and Ezza Effuim communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

He announced this at separate meetings with stakeholders of Effium and Ezza Effium at Ecumenical Centre and Exco Chambers Government House Abakaliki respectively.

Chief Umahi explained that one hundred and twenty-five houses had been burnt while twenty-six arms had been recovered from hoodlums in the warring communities.

“Officially, we have recorded about 25 deaths, 26 arms recovered from the hoodlums, about 125 houses burnt, fuel and gas stations burnt. I have written to Minister of Humanitarian Services to come to our aid, I have written to NEMA to come to our aid,” the Governor stated.

He expressed worry that the clashes had continued unabated despite interventions by security agencies, noting that the state government had gathered that some people were allegedly contributing money to buy arms to further wage war in the area.

“There is no way Ezzas will say that they don’t know what is happening at Effium and there is no way that Effium will say that they don’t know what is happening at Effium.

“If they ask you to contribute money whether you know what the money is for or you don’t know what the money is for, the moment you contribute to spilling of blood, it means that you and your generation to the 5th generation will be cursed,” he fumed.

Governor Umahi blamed the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Mr. Clement Oda, and the member representing Ohaukwu North Constituency, Mr. Chinedu Awo, for allegedly stoking up the violence the engulfed the communities.

“Let us not forget that this problem started by the Council Chairman, Clement Odah and Hon. Chinedu Awo the House of Assembly member.

“When the problem started between them, I called them severally one on one, three of us. We sat and I pleaded with them. In fact, at a time, one of them walked away on me. It took my begging the Speaker for the House not to sack the person on this same issue.

“I just took it that there nothing a father will not see, there is nothing leadership will not see. Two of them supremacy, 2023 that they do not know whether they will see.

“So, let it be known that I did everything to stop it, I set up a committee and of course the committee failed me, they are culpable.

“The Commissioner for Local Government did not do his works, the SA parks did not do his works. If two of them did their works, the crisis wouldn’t have been because I directed that NURTW should be dissolved but they went and encouraged caretaker even when I expressly said it should not be and that’s how the crisis started,” Governor Umahi said angrily.

Meanwhile Radio Nigeria gathered that the engagement would continue with the communities expected to have joint meeting with the government on Tuesday February 23, 2021.