Chairman of Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State, Mr Sunday Nwankwo, has suspended the leaders of the Ekeawoke Community Development Association (ECDA) led by Mr Collins Okechukwu over alleged arms movement, illegal mining and other security concerns.
Nwankwo told journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, that the suspension followed security reports of arms movement, especially during the 2023 general election, adding that there was security tension in the community.
He said as the council chairman and chief security officer of the council, there was need to ensure the security of life and property of the people of the community and the local government at large.
Nwankwo said, “We got security reports of arms movement in the area, when we do things, we are not looking at anybody rather we are looking at the entire society. When the reports came in about the arms movement, I called the councillor representing the area to sniff around and get back to me so as to know what to do regarding that.
“Well, he handled it to the extent he could, but when you listen to him talk, you will realise that he has something to say but was unable to speak out the way he ought to. He will complain that the community president is intimidating him.
“So, I allowed the security agencies to do their job and from the report gotten from them, it became pertinent to suspend the leaders to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
“We also learnt that mining issues started causing crisis and created a situation of looming crisis in the area. The information we got reveals that people were impersonating others, thereby causing tension and apprehension in the area. We had to wade in to avert a possible security challenge in the community.
“So, we had to suspend the leadership and constituted a caretaker committee to oversee the activities of the association while the investigation lasts,” he said.
Meanwhile, the association has described the alleged suspension as politically-motivated and illegal and maintained that there had been a grand plan by the council chairman to remove them from office and replace them with his political loyalists.
Okechukwu debunked the allegations of arms movement and illegal mining, describing them as cheap propaganda.
He expressed sadness that the leadership were not given any fair hearing by the council chairman before pronouncing the suspension.
