Ebonyi Killings: Ignore Umahi, Send Soldiers To Effium Before People Take Up Arms– Group Begs Buhari

The federal government has been called upon to urgently deploy the military to warring communities in Ebonyi State before the violence would lead to more deaths.

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) made the call barely 24 hours after the State Governor, Dave Umahi gave a shoot at sight order to security men in the affected areas.

Advertisement

In a statement on Wednesday, National President of the group, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, said the call became necessary following the partisan role of the governor in the crisis which has left over 40 dead, and many wounded, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The statement reads in part, “though we don’t pray the situation degenerates beyond its present escalation, but the state government in particular must have itself to blame if present trend persists and the Ezzas take measures to defend themselves from their attackers. We say so without bias because we strongly fear that the Umahi government hasn’t only failed to act swiftly but appear to be taking sides with the attackers while pretending to be arresting and willing to prosecute them.”

Lamenting the presence of an armed militia that have held the area hostage in the past 72 hours, the non-governmental group warned that soon people in Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area may have no option but to take up arms to defend themselves and their ancestral homes.

AESID also alleged that security agencies deployed to the area may have been compromised by some political leaders hence the reason for the latest attacks on harmless locals who were earlier encouraged by the visit and meeting with Governor Umahi to stay back in their ancestral homes.

Advertisement

“Again, while we strongly condemn these horrible attacks on defenseless Ebonyians, we urgently call on the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immediately deploy military personnel to the area to forestall further break down of law and order and wanton killing of innocent lives by a prepared armed militia that have held the area to ransom in the past 72 hours and yet counting,” the group cried.

While acknowledging the visit by the governor, the group condemned what it described as “the glaring indolent posture of the Umahi-led government towards holistically arresting the situation and returning peace to the troubled area. It is yet like the typical kids-glove approach of Umahi which is to stir public sentiments with open threats while turning mute in private.

“The Ebonyi state government must know that the eldest and most populous Ezza clan has endured too many attacks in the State beginning from the Ezza-Ezillo crises which claimed many lives of its citizens and those of other Ebonyians and Nigerians who were caught in the cross-fire under Elechi to this present onslaught against their people in Effium.

“The affected victims of Effium community, Ebonyians and indeed, the rest of the world can only take the government seriously if it acts promptly by amicably resolving the cries and restoring absolute peace with adequate compensation to the affected victims and their families,” Amb. Oluchukwu insisted.

According to him, “the bone of contention had been hinged on a dispute arising from a delineation and boundary demarcation exercise initiated by the National Population Commission whose officials were misguided to allocate some parts of Wigbeke wards which are comprised of Effiumites of Ezza-Ezzekuna extraction to indigenes of Korri extraction. Attempts to correct this human-made-error-for-political-gain.

Advertisement

“We are rudely saddened by the fresh attacks again on Effium natives of Ezza extraction which erupted just a few hours after Governor Umahi visited the area and held a meeting with political and traditional stakeholders while announcing the immediate suspension of all political appointees till further notice. With this latest onslaught on the great people of Ezza Ezekuna whose ancestors helped to wage war against invaders into the Effium territory, it is no longer in doubt that the Effiumites of Korri extraction is the actual provocateurs.”

AESID also claimed to be aware of reports that the accused “Local Government Chairman, Clement Odah, who is still reportedly held in custody is still giving directives to the compromised security agents to help relocate his own brothers and sisters (Effiumites of Korri extraction) to the State capital while those of Ezza-Ezzekuna extraction are butchered like fowls.”

Leave a comment

Advertisement