Communal war: Group wants Ortom to secure boundary areas, heaps accusations on Ebonyi community

 

A group known as Effium Indigenous Vanguard, Friday, accused  Ezza people of violating peace process by Ebonyi state government in the lingering war between the people of Effium and Ezza Effium, Ohaukwu  local government area of the state. 
This was even as they called on Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, to complement the efforts of his  counterpart, David Umahi of Ebonyi state in bringing the war to  an end. 
They made the call through a press release, made available to journalists  in Abakaliki, the state capital.


The release was signed by the chairman of the group, Godwin Ogaba, and the secretary,  Sampson Isih.
The group alleged that Ezza fighters were attacking Effium natives through Benue boundary. 
The statement reads, “It should be noted that the Ezzas have continued to violate every single peace agreement and ceasefire orders by the government even as at the time of this press release Ezza fighters are currently attacking Lebadegum and Ofuke in Akparata axis. 
“We appeal to Benue state government  to complement  the effort of Ebonyi state government  in nipping this crisis in the bud by urgently  taking drastic measures to stop Ezza fighters  from using the border  routes to come and attack Effium natives as the Ezza fighters who attacked Lebadegum/Ofule villages of Effium  are believed  to have come from Benue/Ebonyi boundary.  This is important if we avoid another inter state war.


“Recently,  these attacks by Ezzas have graduated from the use of AK-47 and AK- 49 to the use of improvised explosive devices (IED). The Effium  natives have suffered  so many casualties with over one thousand hulled and over two thousand houses burnt with properties worth billions  of naira destroyed.”


The group however  commended Governor Umahi’s effort towards restore peace to the area.
“We want to thank His Excellency the governor of Ebonyi  state, Engineer David Nweze Umahi for his continuous effort to nip the crisis in the bud with the recent deployment  of more army troops  and other security personnel  to the troubled le community  which has resulted  to a relatively r calm in the last couple of days,” it said.

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