Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has vowed to use all available means within his constitutional powers to ensure the restoration of lasting peace between the people of the Effuim and Ezza Effuim communities in the Ohaukwu local government area of the state.
Governor Nwifuru gave the assurance while signing into law an Executive Bill Law 004 of 2025, which seeks to demarcate and create autonomous communities for the people of Effuim and Alioma, which was formerly known as Ezza Effuim.
Governor Nwifuru maintained that the demarcation of the land and creation of the new autonomous communities are aimed at restoring lasting peace in the community and warned those who are bent on ensuring that the killings continue to desist from such.
He noted that the crisis, which erupted in 2021 following a misunderstanding between two political bigwigs in the community over who controls the revenue generation of the area, has claimed many lives and properties worth millions.
“We can’t continue killing ourselves. We are going to use every available means to end the crisis and ensure that peace is restored in the community. We are going to demarcate the land today and create autonomous communities in the land, and I believe that with that, we will have peace.
“The state government set up a committee headed by Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu, and the committee came out with wonderful recommendations. We are going to ensure that we implement what is contained in the white paper.”
Governor Nwifuru noted that there are some highly placed individuals who are benefiting from the crisis, adding that they are the people who have continued to fan the embers of war and killings in the community.
“It is embarrassing and disgraceful that highly placed individuals are the ones instigating crises in the community. We decided on how best to bring peace to the area, and they went on air to counter the state government’s decision.
“They should be ready for us because we are not going to allow them to continue to benefit from the killings of our people. Whatever it takes us, we must restore peace in the community,” he assured.
