Eight persons were on Sunday killed while many others were seriously injured and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in a communal clash in Efium community in Ohakwu Local government Area of Ebonyi State
Also, thousands of residents in the area, mostly women and children, have deserted the area and are now taking refuge in a division police station in the area and in neighbouring communities.
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The crisis erupted on Saturday among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the motor park in the area who were engaged in leadership tussle which later spread to the community.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Conflict Resolution, Stanley Okoro Emegha, blamed the leadership of the NURTW for allowing politicians in the area to meddle into the affairs of the union.
“And we are going to deal with anybody found wanting in this matter no matter his position in government,” he explained.
But, following the incident, Ebonyi State Government on Friday announced a ban on the activities of the NURTW in Effuim Motor Park.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, who led the deputy governor, Barr. Kelechi Igwe on an assessment of the affected community, said the command in conjunction with her sister agencies have arrested over 60 persons in connection to the crisis.
Normalcy restored
Garaba, who condemned the situation, said that about eight persons died in the two days of clash in Effium.
He however assured that normalcy has been restored following the arrest and mob up action taken by the command.
“As you can see we have arrested over 60 suspects as a result of that crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium in the area.
“The situation is now very calm and very soon we are going to charge the suspects to court. So far about 8 persons lost their lives while about 8 houses were destroyed including a filling station”, he explained.
Also, Daily Trust gathered that the Police have arrested some political leaders in the area over the killings and destruction of property in the community.
Those arrested include the chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, a lawmaker representing Ohaukwu North state Constituency, Chinedu Awọ and two coordinators of Effium Development Centre, Sunday Agbo and Effium South DC, Eucharia Ogwale.
Others are a former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Special Assistant on Market Development, Emmanuel Uzor, as well as his counterpart in Charge of Parks Development, Emmanuel Igwe.
Our correspondent observed that the armed security operatives deployed to maintain peace and order in the community also recovered some dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, bullets and charms from the suspects.
