Group Petitions Tinubu, Nwifuru Over Ebonyi Communal Crisis

A group, Ezza Ezekuna Consultative Assembly (EECA) has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, the Chief of Army staff, GOC 82 Division Enugu and the Inspector-General of Police over what they described as alleged invasion and unprovoked attack on innocent Ezza Effium people by suspected soldiers.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Mr Aligwe Mathias and the secretary, Mr Bernard Orichi, the group maintained that in the last two weeks, people suspected to be soldiers have had an unprovoked shooting spree in the land from 6am to about 3pm on Wednesday, April 10.
“They repeated the same on Thursday, April 11, 2024 and Saturday April 13, 2024. In subsequent days, they went from house to house for more shootings, lootings and mop-up operations to make sure that our people are nowhere to be found anymore.

“As we speak, places such as Ameka village, Nwenewo-Amana village, Igbudoke village, Oriuzor, Inikiri-Umuezoka, Nwekendegu and Umuogharu villages in Effium community dominantly occupied by Ezza-Effium people have been deserted to avoid being killed by these soldiers.

“They have been engaging in wanton burning and destruction of houses and looting of properties of the innocent villagers including food stuffs such as garri, rice and yam, cassava grinding and processing machines etc, instead of the peace keeping mission they were sent for.

“We therefore alert the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army staff, GOC 82 Division Enugu, the Inspector General of Police, National Human Rights Commission and Governor Francis Nwifuru, to as a matter of urgency call these suspected soldiers in Effium to order before things get out of hand.

“This unjustifiable attacks on the innocent citizens, especially our vulnerable elders, women and children have further aggravated our fears of the genuine intentions of the state government in bringing a lasting peace to Effium community.

“We are peace loving people and will continue to support every genuine peace move in Effium community. Soldiers should stop ‘killing’ our people who have already survived the war.

“These wanton destructions of our houses, lootings, shootings at sight of human beings and live stocks, will further worsen the already chaotic situation” the group stressed.

“We had earlier rejected the recommendations contain in the government white paper especially the part that is proposing semi-autonomous status without traditional stool and projecting us as tenants in our own land as contained in the peace pact document.”

The group, however warned those behind the Ezza/Effium war to desist adding that such persons should know that their interest doesn’t worth any human life.