NOA CAMPAIGNS AGAINST COMMUNAL/HERDERS CLASHES IN EBONYI

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on critical interest groups and individuals in Ebonyi State to brainstorm on ways to prevent further communal and boundary clashes and pockets of Herdsmen and Farmers’ crisis in the area.

The State Director of the Agency, Dr Emma Abba made the call during a Security Awareness and Sensitization at Ndidoko, Igbeagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

The campaign was coming two months after an early morning attack by suspected herdsmen,  that left three persons dead in the community.

The NOA State Director was represented at the event by the Assistant Director in charge of Planning, Research and Strategy, Mr. Theophilus Nwokpor, who noted that the Agency deemed it necessary to embark on the campaign in response to security situation in the State.

He described as sad, constant communal clashes being witnessed in Izzi, Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Areas noting that it had turned many residents of the state into refugees in their homeland.

The Head Planning, Research and Statistics in the State’s Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mr. Fidelis Nwojiji said it had adopted early warning approach to nip crisis in the bud and urged the people of the state to explore such measure when provoked.

A Village Chief, Peter Nweze, who represented the traditional ruler of Igbeagu Community, Eze Ogbonnia Ukwa, commended the state government and concerned agencies for ensuring that herdsmen vacated the community pending a resolution on last month’s killing.

The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr. Okezie Inya, described the misunderstanding between farmers and herdsmen in the community as least expected considering that they had lived peacefully for years.

Mr. Inya noted that security agencies in Izzi Local Government Area would continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to protect lives and property of the people.

AMECHI ODO