Group Condemns Ebonyi Communal Clashes

… Accuses Umahi, NPC of Culpability In Mayhem

A civil society group, Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AEISD) has condemned recent violent clashes between Effium and Effium Ezza in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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Sources said that the violence which has claimed more than 40 lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira was caused by attempts by the National Population Commission (NPC) to annex some federal Electoral Wards.

The wards belonged to Ezza-Effium people of Ezza extraction, to wards belonging to the Effium of Korri extraction in the ongoing Enumeration Area Demarcation.

In a statement signed by its President, Amb. Paschal Oluchkwu, Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) blamed agents of Ohaukwu Council Chairman, Barr. Clement Odah, for misleading the NPC into wrongfully annexing the affected wards.

The statement said, “This platform is also aware of the complaints raised by Ezza stakeholders in its petition to the NPC against the actions of its EAD officials who were unfortunately misguided by the Local Government boss, Barr. Odah, his agents and co-conspirators wherein they had cautioned that the acts of unlawfully annexing parts of the wards of Effium indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction including the homes of some notable politicians, renowned academics and other prominent cum other natives of Ezza-Effium people’s homes to Effium people of Korri extraction was an open invitation to chaos.”

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The group also stated that the Ezza-Effium people constituted about 80% of the entire population of the community, a situation AESID explained warranted the demarcation of the five electoral wards in the community with family/kindred labels or names instead of the normal physical or geographical boundaries by the old Anambra State government through Edict No. 4 of 1990.

According to the group instead of calling the NPC’s attention to the grievous errors, the local council chairman and the state government relocated one of the communities out of the area in a fashion that is only a reminisce of the Nigerian civil war situation.

AESID condemned the manner in which authorities handled the clashes describing it as “politically-motivated meant not only to stir needless dusts but also to decimate the strengths of the most populous and peace-loving Ezza clan which has lived in peace with all its neighbours in the State be there in Ishiagu, Ukawu and Abaomege in Ebonyi South; Ezzaegu, Ogboji or Ezzillo communities in Ishielu LGA in the Central or in Effium in the north not until the last and present political dispensations.”

Whereas, the apolitical group commended the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba for the promptness in arresting suspects in the disturbances, it however called on the police to get to the root of the crisis.

This is as the group also blamed the state governor, Dave Umahi, for his alleged role in the crises.

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AESID called on the state government to provide adequate shelter to victims who are now taking refuge under flyovers in the state capital, as well as compensate business owners who suffered loses.

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