By Joy Omagha Idam
In a bid to restore peace in Amasiri, Ekumaubaghala and Edda Communities, in Afikpo North and South Local Government Areas, Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr Dave Umahi has set up a 12-man fact finding committee with the Ezeogo, Idam Bassey Onya, the Ubaghala III of Amasiri, and Dr Mike Okoro of Edda as co- chairmen.
The committee, according to a statement by Chooks Okoh, Special Assistant, Media and Strategy to the governor has seven days to turn in its report.
”The Committee is to go to the troubled area, study the issues and advise the State Government on possible solutions to the matter.”
The statement quoted that the governor assured the committee of “immediate and adequate funding, but warned that on no account should any security agent be attacked or molested as theirs is selfless service to ensure peace”.
Meanwhile, relative peace have returned to the communities of Ndukwe, Okporojo and Oso in Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Government Area and Edda, in Afikpo South Local Government Area both in Ebonyi state following intervention by Governor Dave Umahi.
Addressing select leaders of both local governments in Uburu on Saturday, the governor emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence.
“You have been living as brothers and enjoying the closeness of each other. Why would you allow land to be the source of this quarrel? Land is important, we know but a wealthy person can buy enough land to contain a community if money is there, why make it an issue to the point of wasting human life and killing innocent people who might not even know why they were killed? These will certainly bring curses to both the land and the perpetrators.”
Continuing, the Governor noted that “the mistake people make about war is thinking that it is local. You both have prominent sons and daughters living across the world. If war is encouraged, it could degenerate to individual and isolated killings of those your children who do not even know what you are fighting for.”
While commending the efforts of the Chairmen of both local governments, the governor tasked them to immediately, within forty eight hours, convoke a peace-making ceremony to consolidate the peace accord so far reached.
Corroborating position of the governor, Ezeogo Idam Bassey Onya, the Ubaghala III of Amasiri, on behalf of the Amasiri leaders stressed the fact that “Amasiri lineages have relatives in Edda and vice versa meaning that the two sides are brothers and sisters. There is no family in Amasiri that does not have relatives in Edda, showing that we are all interrelated. We have always lived in peace and will not allow anything to shake it”.
Similarly, Dr. Mike Okoro, who spoke for the Edda leaders noted that ‘the relationship between Amasiri and Edda predates creation and has always been brotherly. We can not allow anything to spoil it now. We have decided to live in peace and ensure that nothing shakes us” he said.
Indeed, ten representatives from both Ndukwe and Oso later signed an undertaking of peaceful coexistence.
The meeting was attended by the State Director of the DSS, the Army Cantonment Commander, Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Administration and Commandant of the Army Female Corps.
The 12-man committee include: Joseph Uche Akpu, Bishop Ken Oko Daniel, Uche Onyia, Omezue Oko Oyari, Ndukwe Obiahu (Amasiri) Hon Eze Ama Okoro, Gibson Nnachi Eche, Sunday Kalu, Dickson Udu and Patrick Anya(Oso).
However it was alleged that nine Amasiri people reportedly held hostage by the Edda were yet to regain freedom as at 9:50pm Nigerian time, on Saturday.
