By CHARLES IWUOHA

A group under the aegis of Ohaukwu Concerned Elites in Ebonyi State on Sunday called on the State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, to free the detained stakeholders of Effium community who were arrested in connection with the mayhem and create accommodations for 20,000 Internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.

It was gathered that some of the warlords loyal to some of the stakeholders arrested said that they would only cease fire when they speak to them.

The suspected warlords had wreaked havoc to the peasant farmers of Effium community, and according to investigation, they would continue until their leaders who are currently cooling off in police net are freed.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its National President and Secretary General, Barr. Ogazi Friday and Evang. Godwin Aliuna respectively, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The statement reads in part: “The horrendous and unnecessary war at Effium is still ongoing with fatal consequences. The arrest and detention of Stakeholders who were invited for Peace talk is not helpful in any way. Many of our members are among those who attended the meeting and are now held.

“For any hope of peace there must be some form of talk between both sides. That is not happening for now. There is need for a vocal and systematic engagement with the govt to see things in this perspective.”

The group further urged the governor to create camps for the internally displaced persons from Effium community who escaped from being killed by gunmen who ravaged the community.

The group expressed regret that over 20,000 indigenes of the community who are peasant farmers, who narrowly escaped death by whiskers are roaming round the major streets of Abakaliki without anyone to help them.

“We noticed that over 20,000 indigenes of Effium community, who narrowly escaped from being killed by unknown gunmen, are everywhere in the streets of Abakaliki without anyone to help them.

“Go to Ezziangbo junction, Sperando junction, Presco junction and many other major streets of Abakaliki, you will see thousands of the refugees lying in deep hunger and frustration there.

“Many of the refuges are children, young mothers and girls, others are elderly persons. Few of them are roaming round the streets begging for arms.

“They are being exposed to unavoidable dangers. We are in a harmattan period, how will the elderly and children copy with this hash whether without a roof on their heads?

“We therefore call on our wonder-working Governor Chief David Umahi to do his best as a father of the state by creating camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to enable those citizens of Effium community who narrowly escaped death, settle down and have a roof over their heads.”

The group however commended Governor Umahi for his quick intervention and varied measures employed to forestall further killings in the area.

“We thank Governor David Umahi for his quick intervention in the crisis through various measures which include, deployment of security personnel to every flash point in the area and imposing of curfew from 4pm to 8am daily that is targeted at forestalling further killing and breakdown of law and order as well as physical presence to see things for himself at Effium Community,” the concerned stakeholders stated.

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