WARRING COMMUNITIES IN EBONYI SIGN PEACE ACCORD WITH CAVEAT

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government has given armed fighters involved in the agelong Ishinkwo and Abomege communal crisis one week grace within which to surrender their weapons and embrace Amnesty.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Dr. Ben Odo, announced this at the signing of a Peace Pact between the two communities at Government House Abakaliki.

Dr. Odo, who is the Chairman of White Paper Implementation Committee on the crisis, explained that the order was to facilitate easy implementation of the white paper.

He emphasised that the fighters would have government to contend with if they failed to surrender.

The Commissioner noted that the Committee would release all persons in custody as a result of the crisis while permanent landmarks would be used to delineate the disputed land.

The Traditional Ruler of Ishinkwo Community, Ezeogo Jesophat Ikegwu, had while signing the Peace Pact, promised to ensure that the people of his community adhered to the covenants.

For his part, the Traditional Prime Minister of Abomege Community, Chief Augustine Nwangele, described peace as priceless and promised to ensure that his people would live in peace henceforth with their neighbours.

The Solicitor General of the State, Mr. Albert Alo, had while presenting the Peace Pact, explained that gazetted white paper on the crisis provided that Traditional Rulers from the warring communities would be dethroned and political office holders sacked in the event that they failed to embrace peace.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU