… orders immediate deployment of food items to victims
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, on yesterday ordered the immediate deployment of food items, to victims of Effium and Ezza Effium communal clash in Ohaukwu council area of Ebonyi State.
Also to be distributed are clothing and cash to mothers, girls above 18 years and men above 60 years.
Umahi directed an enumeration of houses of all widows and fathers above 70 years old that were burnt for his immediate attention.
Governor Umahi also approved the construction of a Permanent Army checkpoint in Effium community to protect the people.
His Special Assistant on Media, Mr Francis Nwaze, made the disclosure yesterday in a press release. He appealed to all those who ran away from their communities to return as adequate security is in place.
He said that the government officials that were arrested will continue to be in detention through court order until normalcy returns, assuring that those involved in wasting the lives of our people will be charged for murder.
He reiterated that his administration welcomes constructive oppositions and criticism as part of democracy but assures that all fake news against his person and the state will be challenged in court to strengthen the democracy.
Recall that no fewer than eight persons were killed at the weekend, and 60 suspects arrested while eight houses were destroyed as a result of the Communal clash between Effium community and their Ezza Effium neighbours in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The State Commissioner of Police Aliyu Garba, made the disclosure at the Command Headquarters, Abakaliki, while parading the suspects before newsmen at the end of the Joint Military/Police raid of the crisis-ridden communities .
The raid to the Area was led by the State Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe, the Commissioner of Police Aliyu Garba, the Commissioner for Internal Security Stanley Emegha, and the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ugballa among others.
The Commissioner of Police attributed the crisis to leadership crisis rocking the local chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which culminated into a communal crisis.
He said: “Actually, it is a communal crisis emanating from two communities. what fueled it was as a result of the leadership crisis rocking the local chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area”
The State Chairman of NURTW, dissolved the former Executive and a Caretaker Committee was Constituted, a problem emanated between the former Executive and the newly constituted executive”.
Garba noted that the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution .