By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, says he was not considering the release of detained All progressives Congress (APC) State Chairman, Stanley Emegha, and APC Candidate for Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Eni Uduma Chima, until all those behind the recent killings in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area were arrested and prosecuted.

Governor Umahi stated this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the area on Tuesday.

Umahi insisted that a joint security taskforce would continue to maintain their presence in Ekoli Edda until normalcy returns to the area.

“I will not release any of your children that I am holding until all those behind the killings are identified and prosecuted,” Umahi said

He said he attached much importance to the sanctity of human lives and was not ready to do their bidding until justice was dispensed.

“I know that we are in a political period and my rigid stand on doing the right thing might get us to lose some votes, I am ready to lose but I will win with Jesus! The right thing must be done,” he added.

The Governor also directed the Commissioner of Police, Garba Aliyu, to ensure that security agents on surveillance duty at the troubled community do so according to the rules of engagement.

“The CP and all the Service Chiefs, we must obey all the rules of engagement, if there is anything the security is doing to you that you don’t like, tell the Chairman so that he will come and tell me,” he told the indigenes.

The Governor called on supporters of the two major protagonists to exercise restraint in order not to reignite the crises.

The Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Prince Chima Ekumankama, and some Women Leaders, Mrs. Esther Ogbu and Nnenna Rock, appreciated the Governor for giving them peace after they were displaced by activities of unknown gunmen on December 26, 2022.

The women appealled to the Governor to consider releasing their sons in detention due to their involvement in the recent carnage in the area to pave way for reconciliation.

Governor Umahi during the visit gave the displaced women 200 peices of hi-target wrapper, 200 bags of rice and N2 million as relief packages.

The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for Health, Chief Joseph Ekumankama.

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