The traditional ruler of the Ihie Autonomous community in the Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State, Eze Gabriel Uzoma Okoro, has warned those spreading false information about the crisis that rocked the community recently to desist from doing so to forestall an escalation of the dispute.
In an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Eze Okoro, who maintained that normalcy had been restored in the area, noted that it was not yet certain the whereabouts of the couple that were abducted from the farm recently.
He said, “We are just coming out of a meeting with the state Police leadership, and I must commend the State Commissioner of Police for her commitment and determination in ensuring lasting peace in the Ihie community.
“Let me also commend the State Governor Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru and the local government area chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ajah, for their effort in the restoration of peace in our community. No community develops when there is crisis in the area.
“From our meeting and from information available to us, the police are yet to come out with a definite position or statement that the couple has been killed. We are still waiting for the police to conclude their investigation and come out with their definite report.
“Let me advise those spreading rumours that the couple has been killed to desist from such and allow the police to conclude their investigation and come out with their report. Such insinuation and rumour may jeopardise the effort being made by the police to ensure that the crisis does not escalate.
When the couple were abducted, our youths mobilised and went in search of them, but unfortunately, they have not been seen.”
Eze Okoro called on the people of the community to remain calm and law-abiding and not to take the law into their hands.
Let us eschew any form of violence or act capable of disrupting the peace process in the community.
