By Ewa Innocent, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has suspended all his political appointees from Effium Community following a bloody clash that claimed over 15 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.
The crisis, which erupted between Ezza Effium and Effium speaking natives, was said to have been caused by clashes between factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Effium Branch.
The Governor who spoke at Effium when he visited the area with security chiefs in a peace meeting, said all the political appointees and stakeholders in police custody would remain in detention until peace returns to the area.
Umahi said, because he had no power to suspend the elected officials, he would approach the State House of Assembly to make decisions on the elected political office holders from the area.
In his words,“All political appointments in these five wards are hereby suspended. I have no power to suspend elected people, but the House of Assembly does have and I’m going to report to them and they are going to make a decision on that.”
He further vowed that any of them found to have hand in the crisis would be tried for murder.
Umahi directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Cletus Ofoke, to procure court order that would not allow anybody to be released from detention, unless he authorizes such.
“The political appointees will remain in the detention whether they are directly involved until absolute peace returns and anybody connected will be charged for murder; so you will not see them quickly.
“The women will be the one to report to me. The women will come in their numbers, equal numbers from Effium and Ezza-Effium to report to me that peace has returned.
“But any political appointee or elected that got involved. I’m screening their phones. I have asked Network providers to give me their conversions and any of them that is involved will go to prison and will be charged for murder and arson.”
Governor Umahi charged the security agents to shoot at sight any person found to be using a gun to kill innocent persons and destroy properties in the community.
“I want to be quoted anywhere: to the security agencies, if you see that person with a gun, or exchanging guns with security agencies or trying to kill defenseless mothers, fathers and children, that person should not live. The rule of engagement is that if you see anybody trying to commit arson, you have to demobilize him.”
Umahi also directed the deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe; the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Cletus Ofoke; Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Clement Nweke; and his Chief of Staff, Dr Queen Agwu to work together and recommend to him within three days, the modalities for the constitution of a judicial panel of inquiry into the crisis in the community.
“The Deputy Governor will work with the Attorney General, Principal Secretary and Chief of Staff to set up a judicial panel of inquiry into the crisis here.”
Umahi also announced the suspension of development projects in the community until peace returned.
“The ring road is supposed to start by March this year but it won’t start. Every development is hereby cancelled in Effium. One thing about my government is that when people destroy their property, the government will not give a kobo. So, no kobo will come from the government to rebuild properties that are burnt here”, he remarked.
However, there was mild drama during the peace meeting when the SA on Park, Mr Emmanuel Igwe, who was earlier arrested alongside others appeared to speak,but Governor Umahi asked him who released you? Igwe replied, “I was released by Police, because it was found that I was arrested illegally”.
Umahi in quick response asked the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aliyu Garba to rearrest him.