A Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo has raised an alarm, saying the internecine crises between the Effium and Ezza in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which had spilled to Ado early this year, is fast turning his Constituency and particularly, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State into war zone.
Dr. Ottah Agbo stated this in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Andrew Agbese, while reacting to Friday’s outbreak of fresh hostilities between the Effium and the Ezza in Ebonyi State where scores were killed, many injured and thousands displaced.
The statement also noted that the Lawmaker’s alarm was contained in a letter he personally signed and addressed to the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi.
He said Benue State Government can no longer tolerate a situation where her people remain on the receiving side of an avoidable crisis that Ebonyi State Government should have ordinarily resolved at its formative stage.
Dr. Ottah Agbo lamented why a minor disagreement on the election of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) officials would snowball into a spiral of killings in both Ohaukwu and Ado LGAs, and destruction of property worth billions of naira, without nipping it in the bud.
The Friday clash took place in Akparata in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State but affected border communitites in Ulayi District in Ado LGA of Benue State which have sizeable population of Ezza and Effium people.
The Lawmaker condemned the clash and called on the Ebonyi State Government to roll up its sleeve and take urgent measures to halt the crises which he said has been allowed to drag for too long, causing humanitarian crisis!
Dr. Ottah Agbo also urged stakeholders in both Ezza and Effium to embrace dialogue, saying only them can restore peace in their communities and not the Military, Police or any security agency.
The Lawmaker who commiserated with the families of those who have lost their lives in the recent clash also called on other communities in the area to be alert and shun any act or utterance that could aggravate violence.
