RENEWED COMMUNAL CLASHES: GOV UMAHI ORDERS ARREST OF LG CHAIRMAN, LAWMAKER & EIGHT OTHERS
Reporter: AMECHI ODO
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi Staye on Monday ordered the arrest of the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Mr. Clement Oda and the member representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency, Mr. Chinedu Awo, following renewed hostilities in Ezza Effium and Effium Communities.
The Governor gave the order during a meeting with some stakeholders of the communities at Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.
Chief Umahi, who was visibly angry over the lingering crisis, also ordered the arrest of the spokesperson of Effium, Dr. James Agina and declared the spokesperson of Ezza extraction, Mr. Titus Nworie wanted.
He announced the suspension of all political appointees from Ezza Effium, who were not present at the meeting and directed the Vice Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area to take over the administration of the local government.
Governor Umahi pointed out that the meeting was called to appeal to the warring communities to sheath their sword for the last time, emphasising that he was ready to ask the Federal Government to deploy troops to the area if they failed to heed to the appeal.
Mr. Oda who was present at the meeting was subsequently whisked away while Chinedu Awo who was already in military detention was brought to the meeting and handed over to the police.
Radio Nigeria gathered that it was the second time, Governor Umahi ordered the arrest of the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government and the member representing Ohaukwu North.
In a related development, eight stakeholders from Isi nkwo and Abomege in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State were also arrested on the orders of Governor David Umahi.
He gave the order during a meeting with the stakeholders at Government House Abakaliki following renewed killings over a disputed land by the two communities.
Chief Umahi directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Aliyu Garba, to get a court order for their detention pending when they revealed the names of those behind the killings.
He emphasised that the state government had sent a committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to resolve the disputed land that was at the centre of the crisis but to no avail.
Governor Umahi ordered the police and the army to demobilize any arm wielding individual in the area and warned political appointees from the area to ensure that the crisis abated or face consequences.