By Ruth Oginyi
Effium Indigenous Vanguard, a social-cultural Friday group from the Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi state, has accused the Ezza Effium community of disobeying the peace pact initiated by the state government to end the lingering war between the people of Effium and Ezza Effium, in the state.
The group alleged that suspected war lords from Ezza were attacking Effium natives through the Benue boundary.
They however call on Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, to complement the efforts David Umahi of Ebonyi state to bring the war to an end by stopping the war lords from operating through Benue.
In a press release signed by the chairman of the group, Godwin Ogaba, and the secretary, Sampson Isih, the people lamented that the lingering crisis had crippled economic activities and many lives lost.
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 the 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 interstate war.
“Recently, these attacks by Pizzas 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 2000 houses burnt with properties worth billions of naira destroyed.”
The group, however, commended Governor Umahi’s effort to restore peace to the area.
“We want to thank the governor of Ebonyi state, Engr 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 in a relatively r calm in the last couple of days.”
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