Ebonyi state Governor David Umahi on Tuesday called on stakeholders of Umuogudu-Akpu and Ukwuagba in Ohaukwu local government areas of the state to ensure peace or face persecution.
The governor who was visibly angry over the killings in the state said the stakeholders were behind the crisis in the boundary areas of Ohaukwu and Agila in Benue state.
Deputy governor Barr. Kelechi Igwe had visited the areas last Thursday and met a distress situation as the people who earlier gathered to receive him were on the run due to gun shots from their neighboring Agila community in Benue.
Umahi who was ready to sack both the local government areas (LGAs) chairman and others made the call in a stakeholders meeting from Ohaukwu, Ikwo and Izzi LGAs respectively.
He said: “I first heard of the man that was butchered, then I heard of the three persons that was killed at Nweda market. I also heard of the people that were stab to death at Onicha Igboeze. People came to marry at Nri and the people because of the little problem were also butchered. I also heard the benue problem, then this last incident of roasting people including a nursing mother and her child and I was told that the eight persons were from one family and I also learnt that three were killed with their bikes and I don’t know the total figures.
“The Ohaukwu people in Agali side what is happening, is the problem of sabotage by the leaders of Ohaukwu. I’ m told that there is security committee that the chairman removed and others will go and throw stone at the Agila side and give them sign on how to kill the Ohaukwu people .
“We are placing the security of the area in the hands of the following persons and deputy Governor will do a meeting with you people and you will sign an undertaken that if there is any further aggression between the Agila people that will result to our people being killed, you will present yourselves for arrest and prosecution.
“The names are as follows Barr. Clement Odah, the council chairman, if the chairman cannot protect the lives of the people that means he is not qualify to be the chairman, so he should resign or I sack him. What is important to me is to guarantee the welfare of the people and safe their lives.
“So if the local government chairman does not know what is happening in his local government,even to give information, it means he is not qualified or capable to be the chairman.
“Others includes Fedrick onwe, Donatus Okorie, Margret Ominyi, Onyekachi Ejem, Barr. James Onah, Chidinma Emmanuel, Uroko Friday, Otizi Emmanuel, Igboke Ekene , Emeka Agbom, Decon Sunday Igboke, Chinyere Elom, Ozoemela Olum, Eze Steven, Okwu Oluchi, Christian Oselebe, Cyrill Obasi, Uche Okpoto, Rebecca Odo, Nnaji Samuel, Christan Elom, Abino Malaki, Ideyi Theophilous, Isekwe Roseline, Uzor Amarachi, Ekumenyi Sunday, Eze Uchenna, Emma Cecilia, among others.
Governor Umahi further dissolved the vigilante group inaugurated by Barr Odah, chairman of the council and said the deputy Governor would institute a new security committee for the LGA.
“Now the two security groups have been dissolved. The deputy governor and the commissioner for border peace will work with people from that location to give us the names of those we can use to form a new security committee. Any body in the former committee that has done well, will be upheld to also work in the new committee.” he said.
