Probe death of 40 persons in Effium mayhem, AESID tells security agencies

Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora, AESID, has called on the security agencies to probe state officials and the chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, over an alleged communal clash between the Effium and Effium indigenes of Ezza extraction, leading to the death of at least 40 people.

President of the association, Paschal Oluchkwu, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, condemned the mayhem, alleging that it was politically motivated.

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However, AESID said the facts on ground actually proved that the attempt to unlawfully annex some federal electoral wards, which originally belong to Ezza-Effium people of Ezza extraction, to Wards of Effium indigenes of Korri extraction in the ongoing enumeration area demarcation exercise by the National Population Commission (NPC) caused the crisis.

“Further probe into the said action showed that the NPC officials were ostensibly misguided by…stakeholders of Effium indigenes of Korri extraction.

“Documented evidence made available to AESID showed that the peculiarities of Effium community where Effium people of Ezza Ezekuna extraction or Ezza-Effium people constituted about 80% of the entire population of the community warranted the demarcation of the five electoral wards in the community with family/kindred labels or names instead of the normal physical or geographical boundaries by the Government of old Anambra State through her Edict No. 4 of 1990,” the AESID added.

The group also said that it was aware of the complaints raised by Ezza stakeholders in its petition to the NPC against the actions of its EAD officials who were unfortunately misguided by the local government officials.

According to the group, Ezza stakeholders cautioned that the acts of unlawfully annexing parts of the wards of Effium indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction, including the homes of some notable politicians, renowned academics and other prominent cum other natives of Ezza-Effium people’s homes to Effium people of Korri extraction was an open invitation to chaos.

It however expressed regrets that the government didn’t act early enough to the warning.

“Even the solemn prayers by the said Ezza stakeholders for a prompt and proper reversal of all parts of the wards of Effium indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction otherwise known as Ezza-Effium people unlawfully annexed to Effium indigenous people’s wards were paid deaf ears to by the powers that be.

“We condemn this politically-motivated action meant not only to stir needless dusts but also to decimate the strengths of the most populous and peace-loving Ezza clan who has lived in peace with all its neighbours in the State be there in Ishiagu, Ukawu and Abaomege in Ebonyi South; Ezzaegu, Ogboji or Ezzillo communities in Ishielu LGA in the Central or in Effium in the north not until the last and present political dispensations.

“We commend the new and ebullient State’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, for the prompt action of arresting all those who are suspected to have had a hand in the Effium carnage.

“We wish to request that the police should get to the root of this crisis by thoroughly investigating the Council Chairman, Barr. Odah and his co-travellers.

“The security agencies should investigate this as a matter of urgency and bring all those responsible for this mayhem to book.

“Unlike in the pasts, we wish to state that the reported arrest of some of the stakeholders should not be the usual smokescreen that would often yield no result or bring any permanent solution.”