Fwd: Sunday Musings: Brothers at War - On the Matter of the Latest Nigerian Killings
Mobolaji ALUKO
\"But the Ezza version of the story is that they were invited to fight and drive the Ngbo backwards and live in the land which is now claimed the present day disputed areas of Ishimkpume, Amalinze, Umuezikoha, among other hamlets.
The two communities had lived together peacefully even inter-marrying. Ezza people are nomadic and can be found in Wawa land in Enugu and Ebonyi States. The Ezza are also found in some parts of Benue, Kogi and Cross River State.
Wherever the Ezza occupied, they would name after themselves hence there are places like Ezza-Ezillo, Ezza-Effium, Ezza-Akpoga, etc.
The Ezillo community narrates that only 22 Ezza men were invited to come and live in Ezillo originally but that, as time went on, they started inviting their kin from Onueke, in Ezza-South Local Government Area and began to occupy the extra portions of land that made both the Ezillo and Ezza to live without clearly defined boundary. Problems ensued leading to the Ezillo asking for Ezza relocation to Eguechara, the place Ezillo maintained was the original place it agreed to give the Ezza. The matter was taken to an Abakaliki colonial customary court in 1955 when the court ruled in favour of Ezillo, mandating the Ezza to move to Eguechara.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sunday Musings: Brothers at War - On the Matter of the Latest Nigerian Killingsby
Bolaji Aluko__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 1, 2012Dear Compatriots:We are into a New Year 2012 - and we all should thank God for it. However, the last few days of 2011 witnessed reports of killings of Nigerians by Nigerians, whether under religious, political, ethnic or communal strife with horrifying pictures - and that is most saddening.But whatever the reasons - religious, political, ethnic or communal - they are ALL criminal acts, and until they are PRIMARILY dealt with that way - with the perpetrators and instigators brought to book - WHILE addressing those other dimensions (including poor/non-existent educational opportunities, lack of employment (both public and private-sector), severe economic and widening gap between the rich and the poor, the leaders and the led; and infrastructure gap between the oil-producing and other parts of the country, etc.) , they will continue ad infinitum. Also, until ALL assassinations (political and otherwise) and killings are THOROUGHLY re-opened and investigated without ceasing, there will be people who think that they can only get justice through self-help (a.ka. vigilante justice or revenge killings), or impose injustice with utter impunity. The Madalla killings (in Niger State) of Christians in a Church by Boko Haram on December 25, 2011. and the Ebonyi State communal killings in the Ezza/Ezillo communities of December 31 (both highlighted below), are cases in point.The amount of arms used in these large-scale killings - and even smaller-scale ones - are not what can be hidden under bedroom pillows. In fact, most of the arms are not manufactured in Nigeria, one is convinned. I am therefore convinced that intelligence, counter-intelligence, selected curfews, interdiction, prosecution, severe sentencing etc. if properly deployed, can severely reduce these incidents.What we are also witnessing is the cumulative effect of the ease with which our first line of security - the Police officers on the street - are easily bribed, meaning that vehicles carrying arms can easily offer N50, N1000, etc. and it be accepted to get past police security posts. It has been a butt of joke all of these decades: "wetin you dey carry?" but it has now become a matter of life and death. Consequently, bribery acceptance by the police as well as bribery giving as a routine on our roads should now be looked upon as aiding and abetting terrorism.There is also need to de-centralise our national security, particularly the allowance of state and local government police and other police right down to institutional levels as is done elsewhere in the world. What we have now is not working and has not been working for a long time. All it requires is an imaginative division of labor between all the various police levels.The states and their governors themselves must also seize the initiative, and stop hiding under dubious constitutional provisions that do not prevent any individual or collective of individuals from securing their own lives, limbs and property without being vigilante about it.We pray that 2012 be better for Nigerian lives; but we MUST work at it.We hope that all have a Happier New Year!Bolaji AlukoPS: I wish to re-emphasize that there are severely poor/non-existent educational opportunities in our country; lack of employment opportunities (both public and private-sector); severe economic and widening gap between the rich and the poor, between the leaders and the led; and incomprehensible infrastructure gap between the oil-producing and other parts of the country. I am a first-hand eye-witness in my so-far brief working in the Niger-Delta. These socio-economic issues MUST be addressed HEAD ON beginning TODAY January 1, 2012, but the problems should be neither excuses or explanations for the heinous crimes of Nigerians killing other Nigerians, nor are political, religious or ethnic considerations. Such Nigerians cannot be victimized twice.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________JANUARY 1, 2012: Over 50 feared dead in Ebonyi communal clash; End of the year tragedy: 52 massacred in Ebonyi http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/over-50-feared-dead-in-ebonyi-communal-clash/ http://africanheraldexpress.com/blog7/2012/01/01/end-of-the-year-tragedy-52-massacred-in-ebonyi/DECEMBER 25, 2011: Church Releases List of 88 Victims (27 dead) http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/dec/30/newsbreak-30-12-2011-001.htmlhttp://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/list-of-madalla-blast-victims-released/
FEBRUARY 26, 2010: Ebonyi Accuses Abuja Lawmakers of Masterminding Ezza-Ezillo Communal WarMARCH 6,2010: Brothers at War - The Story of the Ezza/Ezillo Communal Strife http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/brothers-at-war-the-story-of-the-ezzaezillo-communal-strife/MARCH 8, 2010: Elechi faults lawmakers over Ezza, Ezillo communal crisis http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/elechi-faults-lawmakers-over-ezza-ezillo-communal-crisis/
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Below is a list of victims of the Xmas bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/list-of-madalla-blast-victims-released/
S/N
Location
Names
Status
[Confirmed Dead (CD), or Receiving Medical Attention (RMA)]
1
Confirmed Dead (27 persons)
Anthony Okoronkwo, Comrade Dike A. Williams, Emmanuel Dike, Richard Dike, Lillian Dike, Linda Chioma Obiukwu, Uche Q. Obiukwu, Chindinma Cythia Obiukwu, Ifeoma G. Obiukwu, Ann Chinedu Aigbadon, Chiemeri Nwachukwu, Cecilia Ebeku, Oluebube Faustina Pius, Chidera Sylvia Pius, Florence Nwachukwu, Eucharia Ewoh, Joseph Daniel,Inspector Titus Eze, Obasi Jonathan Onyebuchi, Ehiawaguan Peter, Uche Esiri, Sgt. Kadiri Danjuma, Unidentified person (5)
CD
2
National Hospital (27 persons)
Paulina Koju, Chukwudi Umeh, Christiana Kadiri, Esther Agbo, David Agbo, Hellen Okolo, Mercy Agbo, John Agbo, Obiukwu Uche Stella, Ebuka Abuyi, Celestine Aniowo, Michael Sunday, Lucy Unji, Chiamaka Obiukwu, Favour Dike, Chimaobi Dike, Favour Agbo, Maria Obodugo,Kosisochukwu Egbo, Nzubechukwu Pius, Obodo Linus, Austin Ogbugu, Chuks Ajuwe, Esther Ibu, Blessing Philip, Isaac Ibu, Kenedilim Aloysius.
RMA
3x
Specialist Hospital Gwagwalada (15 persons)
Innocent Okoronkwo (Intensive Unit), Chima Ohazurume, Justina Uche, Chinyere Amaechi, Ifeanyi Emenaba, Fidelia Onugwu, Chinyere Anthony, Sadiq Idris, Onyinyi Peace Eneh, Clara Iwuozor, Pauline Okoronkwo, Uche Bonaventure, Uche Michael, Lawal Abubakar, Victor James.
RMA
4x
General Hospital Suleja
(3 persons)
Owen Sylvester, Danlamin Isah (passer-by), Ali Sani (passer-by)
RMA
5x
Major Hospital Kwamba
Edeh Christiana
RMA
6x
Delight Hospital Suleja (2 persons)
Roseline Okeke, Chisom Eucharia Okoye
RMA
7x
Suzan Hospital Suleja (4 persons)
Chukwuebuka Obiakor, Jenifer Obiakor, Chidera Obiakor, Beatrice Otogo.
RMA
8x
Daughters of Charity Hospital Kubwa (3 persons)
Oliver Ogbona, Remmy Ofoha, Francis Raphael
RMA
9x
Diamond Crest Hospital Zuba (6 persons)
Gabriel Christiana, Michael Nwanze, Achunike Okolo, Fvaour, Ugochukwu, Nzube Pius
RMA
10
State House Clinic Abuja (4 persons)
Uche Thaddeus, Tanko Mpan, Lucy Wumi, Unknown
RMA
11
Lucas Hospital Madalla (5 persons)
Dominic Mbeng, Agnes Justin Wadzani, Samuel Eze, Ugwu Calistus, Raphael Okoro.
RMA
12
Solace Hospital Suleja (2 persons)
Jane Francis Mmadunacho, Unknown
RMA
13
General Hospital Kubwa (1 person)
PC Ibrahim Gaita
RMA
99 Persons
27 CD, 72 RMA
THE SUN
Madalla: Church releases list of 88 victims
•43 dead, 45 hospitalised
•Mum of only child victim inconsolable
By IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja
Friday December 30, 2011
•Agony of a mum: Woman who lost her only son, Peter Ebiawaguen in the Christmas Day bomb blast at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, inconsolable as the sad news was broken to her yesterday.
Photo: Sun News PublishingFive days after the dastardly incident of Boko Haram bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, the church has finally released a list of 88 victims.
But from the words of the resident priest, Rev. Father Isaac Achi who spoke during a press briefing by the church yesterday, the list is not yet exhaustive as more facts about the dead victims keep emerging everyday.
This figure is however a little less than what was reported in the news that the Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu revealed that there are 94 victims of the attack out of which 36 are dead already as at Wednesday. But since the church just compiled a list of its members, it could be right to say there is no discrepancy between its list and that of the minister because the church admitted that other persons than her members died in the attack.
In the list are 27 confirmed dead persons out of which five are yet to be identified. The rest of the victims are scattered in eight hospitals with the National Hospital holding the highest of 27 victims. At the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, there are 15 victims receiving treatment. Also, there are three patients at the Suleja General Hospital, one at the Major Hospital, Kwamba, two at the Delight Hospital and four in Suzan Hospital all in Suleja, three in Daughters of Charity Hospital, Kubwa and six in Diamond Crest Hospital, Zuba.
At the briefing, Father Achi clarified that with the nature of things, he could not say the 88 is the final casualty list because while he was working on a figure of 20 dead victims, 23 more emerged just over night and there is high likelihood more would still come. With that, it seems the church had not added the new figure of 23 more dead victims at the time of issuing the statement. And with the new list, the number of church members who died will be 43. At the briefing handled by the Catholic Bishop of Minna, Martins Igwe Uzoukwu, the grief and wailing was revived as the head cleric drew heavily from the Bible in Jeremiah 31:15. “A voice was heard in Ramah , wailing and loudly lamenting: it was Rachael weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more.”
“The voice of Bishop Martin Igwe Uzoukwu is heard wailing for his spiritual children in Minna Diocese. He is refusing to be comforted because his spiritual children are no more.”
“The voice of Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi is heard loudly wailing and lamenting. He is refusing to be comforted because his spiritual children in Madalla are no more.That seemed to ignite the emotions once again as the women in the congregation sobbed loudly. But that was just the tip of the wailing to come as father of an undergraduate victim, Joseph Igbla took the stage to narrate his ordeal in losing his son who just gained admission into a university.
Dan Igbla, father of late Jospeh, a prominent welder in Madalla whose shop is very close to the church said he had premonition of the incident a day earlier and as a result decided not to go to church. He had also left the same instruction with the family members that none should go to church on Christmas day. He said he never knew the problem will be about the church. “I was just afraid that something bad might happen to me, so I decided to remain at home and possibly avert it. So when I woke up early Sunday morning to discover that my two sons had gone to church, I was so afraid. It was not long from then that I heard the loud bang of the explosion, and a little after, someone ran in to tell me that my sons were affected. One survived, but the other died from terrible bleeding.
He could not even make it to the hospital.” Igbla explained that since the church has decided to bury the victims in the church premises he has no objection as according to him, since his son died in the church during the attack, it is just proper and befitting that he is buried there. But immediately the briefing was over, hell seemed let loose as a woman stormed the bombing spot rolling and wailing uncontrollably. She is the mother of an only son who was security personnel of the church. The young man belonged to a group known as the MOD. He was reportedly one of the persons Daily Sun reported earlier on Tuesday that tried in vain to stop the suicide bomber’s car in the company of two policemen.
The distraught mother had been placated by the church authorities over the days that his son was somewhere in hospital and recovering. The chairman of the church council who felt disturbed said they had been buying time and planning how to break the news of the death to the woman knowing the deceased young man was her only child. But the church would not know who visited the woman to leak the news of her son’s death. It took the efforts of so many other women sympathising with her to take her out of the premises.
When asked the number of church members that died, Bishop Uzoukwu got frenzied and replied that: “The number is not the issue. The issue is that my members were killed in cold blood and there is no dispute about that. I can’t count because they all belonged to me. All I know is that my people were killed. There were just innocent Nigerians and didn’t offend anybody to deserve the killing they got. I don’t want to get emotional, but let nobody ask me of number of the dead or to start counting because I can’t count. But if you want to know the exact number, just go to the hospitals and mortuaries and you will count them.”
Bishop Uzoukwu also called on Nigerians to pray for the healing of the land, and urged all Christians to devote one hour everyday to read their Bible, meditate and pray, and also urged Muslims to read their Quran and the Hadith, meditate and pray for the nation.
He challenged the Federal Government to do more in equipping the police and other security agencies to match the sophistry of the crime rate that is ravaging Nigeria today before it gets worse.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
End of the year tragedy: 52 massacred in Ebonyi
January 1, 2012- Written by Clement Oko Nnachi, Abakaliki -
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday, specifically at about 5.30am, when unidentified gunmen stormed Ezillo community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, killing 52 persons and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
Also killed in the mayhem, was a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), name withheld, attached to the Ezillo divisional police station.
An eyewitness, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, told newsmen, who accompanied Governor Martin Elechi to the community at Ezillo, that the assassins besieged the community in six buses early in the morning and started shooting sporadically at the villagers which left many dead, while a number of houses were also set ablaze.
Victims of the mayhem included children between the ages of 2 and 10 years as well as the aged.
According to him, “We woke up this morning and saw unknown people who stormed our village and started shooting people. There are some people whose entire households have been wiped out,” he declared.
Governor Martin Elechi, who visited the community in company of the state Commissioner of Police, Adeniji Adeleke, shed tears at the gory sight, as dead bodies littered the scene of the incident.
The governor urged the villagers to remain calm as government would use every means to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crimes.
Another eyewitness, Mr Jacob Ogodo, told reporters that his entire family had been wiped out, noting that all his credentials were destroyed by the assassins.
Meanwhile, the Ezillo axis of Abakaliki/Enugu expressway has been closed to traffic to forestall motorists and commuters falling victims to the tragedy.
It will be recalled that communal clashes and conflict, had in 2007, erupted between the Ezillo community and their Ezza/Ezillo neighbours resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property.
The Federal Government had, at different times, drafted a combined team of mobile policemen and military officers to the community to restore peace and order.
---------------------------
VANGUARD
Ezillo (Ebonyi) – More than 50 people have been killed, Saturday, following a clash between the neigbouring communities of Ezillo and Ezza in Ebonyi State.
Vanguard gathered that over 50 people were killed when a group of people from Ezza community attacked residents of neighbouring Ezilo over a land dispute.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi state governor Martin Elechi, during his visit to the area said government would not tolerate the wanton killing of innocent citizens and the destruction of property in the name of communal conflict.
“It is unfortunate that these hoodlums want to return anarchy to the area in spite of the success of the government in bringing peace to the area since 2010.
“We will not fold our hands and allow the area to degenerate into chaos again, as government will do its best to ameliorate the victims’ sorrows,” the governor said
Mr Adeola Adeniji, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who accompanied the governor on the visit, said the police would ensure that the situation did not degenerate further as was the case in the past.
“Though no arrests have been made, more police reinforcements are being expected from Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, to collectively ensure that the situation is brought under control,’’ he said.
Chief Solomon Egbu, a native of the area said that the hoodlums were suspected to have come from Ezza.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/brothers-at-war-the-story-of-the-ezzaezillo-communal-strife/Brothers AT war ! The story of the Ezza/Ezillo communal strife
| 6:51 pm
Some of the vehicles damaged along Abakaliki-Enugu Road.
By DENNIS AGBO, Abakaliki
It is the case of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as land tears two communities in Ebonyi apart.
Sometime between 1928 and 1930, the Ezillo community, now the headquarters of Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, had a communal dispute with the neighboring community of Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.According to Ezillo people, because the community would not shed the blood of Ngbo people, they decided to lay a complaint before Ezza which is generally agreed to be the eldest of all Abakaliki clans. The Ezillo said the Ezza came to make peace with Ngbo by accepting to live at the boundary with the Ngbo, which Ezillo said is in the present day Eguechara.
But the Ezza version of the story is that they were invited to fight and drive the Ngbo backwards and live in the land which is now claimed the present day disputed areas of Ishimkpume, Amalinze, Umuezikoha, among other hamlets.
The two communities had lived together peacefully even inter-marrying. Ezza people are nomadic and can be found in Wawa land in Enugu and Ebonyi States. The Ezza are also found in some parts of Benue, Kogi and Cross River State.
Wherever the Ezza occupied, they would name after themselves hence there are places like Ezza-Ezillo, Ezza-Effium, Ezza-Akpoga, etc.
Governor Elechi being conducted round Ezillo Water scheme which the militants attacked.
The Ezillo community narrates that only 22 Ezza men were invited to come and live in Ezillo originally but that, as time went on, they started inviting their kin from Onueke, in Ezza-South Local Government Area and began to occupy the extra portions of land that made both the Ezillo and Ezza to live without clearly defined boundary. Problems ensued leading to the Ezillo asking for Ezza relocation to Eguechara, the place Ezillo maintained was the original place it agreed to give the Ezza. The matter was taken to an Abakaliki colonial customary court in 1955 when the court ruled in favour of Ezillo, mandating the Ezza to move to Eguechara.
The Ezza appealed the matter before an Abakaliki colonial district master called Mr. Gunning who affirmed the judgment of the customary court. The Ezillo claim that both judgments are still in their possession till date. Yet the Ezza remained in the land till May 10, 2008, when the dispute that led to February 19, 2010 mass killings in the area started.
The latest war actually started after a misunderstanding on where to erect a commercial pay phone booth. One Chukwuman Agbo, an Ezillo, was said to have insisted on erecting the booth on a portion he claimed was given to him by his uncle identified as Sunday Ideinyi. But an Ezza-Ezillo man reportedly disagreed on the siting of the booth, arguing that the land belonged to the Ezza. The disagreement led to the pulling down of the booth and consequent burning of motorcycles that belonged to both parties.
By the following day, the problem escalated to a full blown war with both sides burning houses that belonged to one another.
The military was deployed to the place to maintain the peace but the crisis degenerated with each side trading blames of guerrilla attack.
Ebonyi State government set up a panel to recommend appropriate solution to the matter. Government White Paper of October 2, 2008 on the panel report directed the Ezza to vacate a substantial portion of the disputed land to Eguecharra. The Ezzas protested that they had been shortchanged and swore never to relocate to the new land leaving their houses and cash crops. The Ezza also contended that there were other people occupying the place allocated to them.
In addition, the Ezza claimed that government made no effort at compensation or provide any amenity such as roads, water or electricity that could attract them to the new place. The Ezillo on their part maintained that they could no longer live with the Ezza who they (Ezillo) described as cantankerous, war mongers and land acquirers.
Part of Ezillo Water Scheme showing bullet marks on the wall.
February 19, 2010 was bloody along the Enugu-Abakaliki highway known as Ezza-Ezillo. On that day, the minister of works and urban development, Alhaji Hassan Lawal, was scheduled for a working visit to Ebonyi State. He had already landed in Enugu airport en route Abakaliki but little did he know he would not get into Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital city. Suspected hired militants fighting in the disputed land had taken over the area.
Three police vehicles that went to Enugu and were coming back to Abakaliki were caught in the crossfire. Five other police vans were set ablaze. While the police gave the number of dead policemen as two, many believe more cops would have lost their lives at the spot. A good number of commuters traveling along the road were also felled by the gunmen. Unconfirmed reports said 12 corpses were recovered from the scene after the gun battle.
An NTA reporter, who courageously went to get pictures of the scene shortly after the mayhem, narrated that he saw a woman carrying a baby that was trapped in between two lorries that collided during the crossfire. He also said he saw no less than three charred bodies whereas another man, believed to be a lorry driver, was trapped in between the collided lorries. The corpses of the woman, her child and the driver were left on the scene till three days after when the Ebonyi authorities came to clear the decomposed bodies.
As the battle raged, police armoured tanks deployed to quell the battle retreated.
The road became deserted while commuters were stranded at both Nkalagu and Ntezi, two neighbouring communities. Only courageous drivers still ply Enugu-Abakaliki road passing through Ezillo.Ebonyi State government, last week, accused politicians from the state resident in Abuja of masterminding the renewed battle but Senator Julius Ucha, together with two other members of the House of Representatives from the state and of Ezza origin, in a press conference in Abuja, said the allegation amounted to one whose house is on fire but decides to cash rats.
Even though mobile police have been drafted to the war zone, the place remains a hot spot for commuters travelling from Enugu to Abakaliki.
Caught in the web of the crisis is Ebonyi State government that issued the White Paper, ordering the Ezza to relocate to Eguecharra.
Whereas the government may have acted based on the report of the panel it set up on the crisis, the Ezza accused Governor Martin Elechi of composing a panel headed by an Ngbo man, who they (Ezza people) alleged may have carried over the grudge of the olden days war against the Ngbo for Ezillo to produce a report against the Ezza.
The Ezillo, also speaking on the panel, said that whereas seven Ezza men were members, no single Ezillo man was there.
driver, was trapped in between the collided lorries. The corpses of the woman, her child and the driver were left on the scene till three days after when the Ebonyi authorities came to clear the decomposed bodies.
As the battle raged, police armoured tanks deployed to quell the battle retreated.The road became deserted while commuters were stranded at both Nkalagu and Ntezi, two neighbouring communities. Only courageous drivers still ply Enugu-Abakaliki road passing through Ezillo.
Wall of Ezillo Water Scheme riddled with bullets.
Ebonyi State government, last week, accused politicians from the state resident in Abuja of masterminding the renewed battle but Senator Julius Ucha, together with two other members of the House of Representatives from the state and of Ezza origin, in a press conference in Abuja, said the allegation amounted to one whose house is on fire but decides to cash rats.
Even though mobile police have been drafted to the war zone, the place remains a hot spot for commuters travelling from Enugu to Abakaliki.
Caught in the web of the crisis is Ebonyi State government that issued the White Paper, ordering the Ezza to relocate to Eguecharra.
Whereas the government may have acted based on the report of the panel it set up on the crisis, the Ezza accused Governor Martin Elechi of composing a panel headed by an Ngbo man, who they (Ezza people) alleged may have carried over the grudge of the olden days war against the Ngbo for Ezillo to produce a report against the Ezza.
The Ezillo, also speaking on the panel, said that whereas seven Ezza men were members, no single Ezillo man was there._____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________DAILY CHAMPIONNigeria: Ebonyi Accuses Abuja Lawmakers of Masterminding Ezza-Ezillo Communal WarKenneth Ofoma26 February 2010Abakaliki — Ebonyi State government has accused Senator Julius Ucha, Ebonyi Central and two members of the House of Representatives; Hon. Paulinus Igwe Nwagu and Chief Innocent Ugo Chima of masterminding the communal crisis between Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities in Ishielu local government of the State for selfish political reasons.Reacting to a press conference said to have been organized by the lawmakers in Abuja two days earlier in which they allegedly "blamed the state government for the escalation of the Ezillo-Ezza communal conflict", the Personal Assistant to the State Governor on Media Relations, Chief Abia Onyike said the lawmakers seem to be deriving pleasure and expecting benefits from the crises because of their self-acclaimed antagonism to the state government, all targeted at the struggle for political power in 2011."It is not out of place to suspect that these elements who claim to be the representatives of the people have of late engaged in mass arms acquisition and accumulation of dangerous weapons with which they arm a warring faction in order to exacerbate the conflict," Onyike said in a statement made available to Daily Champion yesterday.The governor's aide said that recent press conference by the lawmakers was the latest their serial acts of sabotage, alleging that the Abuja-based politicians did not take any step in scaling down the conflagration in their constituency but rather maintained reticent disposition of dumb silence since the crisis started."Perhaps having orchestrated and nurtured the crisis from behind the scenes, the senator, in his latest media outpourings is perceived by many as showing off part of his tactics for political relevance in 2011, having contested the 2007 Guber primary elections and loosing to the incumbent Governor, Chief Marting Nwancho Elechi," he said.Onyike stated that Senator Ucha and the two other lawmakers' political strategy were anchored on escalating the communal conflict with the aim of derailing Governor Martin Elechi's administration.He recalled that the crisis in Ezillo between the Ezza and Ezillo groups started over the erection of telephone booth between two persons from the warring communities."Unfortunately, this minor clash escalated leading to the loss of lives and property. The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi promptly intervened into the matter, having cut short his trip outside the State to visit the community. The Government urgently set up a high-powered mediatory committee of eminent citizens from the State, headed by the Traditional Ruler of Izhia, Eze Chibueze Agbo, Ogaba Idu II."Other influential members of the Committee included Senator Offia Nwali amongst others. Government heavily relied on the well-informed report and recommendations of the Committee, leading to the demarcation of the Ezillo-Ezza boundaries. The State Government has sustained security presence in the troubled Communities. This was followed by surveying the disputed land and the provision of social amenities such as access roads and a plan to provide water and electricity," he noted.Onyike added that following the dangerous dimension which the conflict has taken and the loss of innocent lives, including those of two policemen, who were on duty post, "the Ebonyi State Government would no longer tolerate the continuation of these heinous plots and dangerous conspiracies, and the bloody consequences they entail."He called on Ebonyians and other residents in the State to continue to be peaceful in their conduct and to go about their normal duties as normalcy returns to the affected communities._________________________________________VANGUARD
By Dennis Agbo
ABAKALIKI—THE government of Chief Martin Elechi has flayed the recent media briefing by Senator Julius Ucha (Ebonyi North) together with two members of the House of Representatives in Abuja, where the federal lawmakers from Ebonyi State blamed the state government for the escalation of the Ezza-Ezillo communal war.
In a statement in Abakaliki, Governor Elechi through his Media Relations Assistant, Mr. Abia Onyike, said that the allegation by Senator Ucha as well as Mr. Paulinus Nwagu and Mr. Innocent Chima of House of Representatives failed to justify their flimsy accusations. The Governor noted that the allegation was aimed at creating more confusion as a cover for their underhand machinations in fueling the conflict and politicizing it to a dangerous dimension.
According to Governor Elechi, “the truth of the matter remains that these people, who blow hot and cold, were the same people who seem to be deriving pleasure and expecting benefits from the crises due to their self-proclaimed antagonism of the state government, targeted at the struggle for political power in 2011.â€
The Governor said that it would not be out of place to suspect that “these elements, who claimed to be the representatives of the people have of late engaged in mass arms acquisition and accumulation of dangerous weapons with which they arm a warring faction in order to exacerbate the conflict.â€The Governor also alleged that the problem in Ezza-Ezillo was nurtured from the time Senator Ucha was Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003 and was holding brief as Acting Governor.
He noted that then, Ucha directed all Ezza, who were living in peace with their host communities to seek and deploy violent measures in search of autonomy status. Elechi said he, however, promptly intervened in the matter when the war broke out, adding that he quickly set up a high-powered mediatory committee that later recommended the demarcation of the Ezillo-Ezza boundaries.
“Following the dangerous dimension which the conflict had taken and the loss of innocent lives, including those of two policemen, the government would no longer tolerate the continuation of these heinous plots and dangerous conspiracies, and the bloody consequences they entail,†the Governor warned.
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