Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, Tuesday, announced the sack of appointees from Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State over the lingering crisis which recently resulted in the abduction of five construction workers in the area.
The governor also suspended all civil servants from Effium community. He also suspended the salaries of Permanent Secretaries from the area.
Umahi made the announcement in Abakaliki during a security summit organised by the state’s founding fathers, Christian Association of Nigeria among others.
Umahi said that though the perpetrators of the killings and destruction in the area are funded from outside, some stakeholders of the area within the state, also fund such.
He stated: “The coordinators of the two development centres from the area are hereby removed from office while salaries of permanent secretaries from the area are suspended.
He noted that he will approach the state House of Assembly for the way forward on the chairman of the council and the two house of assembly members from the area.
The governor reiterated that the government cannot sit and watch them receiving salaries which goes in sponsoring killings and destruction of the peoples properties.
He added: “Recently, five construction workers on the state’s ring road which passes through the area were killed by unknown people and these workers who know nothing about the crisis were here to help the state.
“The suspects arrested over the incident confessed that the workers have been killed and buried and the government in pacifying the affected families, sought to know the location of where they were buried.
“The hoodlums ambushed the security team who went to the area and officers have been reported killed or missing”.
He directed stakeholders from the area to handle the issue within seven days or attract severe actions from the government.
“My hands are tied on the matter as I swore to protect the lives and properties of the people, he stated.
Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, South East Zonal Chairman of CAN of the Christian Association of Nigeria, urged stakeholders in the state to check the effects of hard drugs especially ‘mkprummiri’ on the youths due to its negative effects on their actions.