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Effium/Ezza-Effium Renewed Crisis: Group Accuses Ezza Warlords, Hired Mercenaries Of Breach Of Peace
Sequel to the renewed Effium/Ezza- Effium Intra-Communal crisis in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Lagos-based Effiumites identified as Effium Development Union, Agege Branch has blamed the lingering crisis on Ezza people and hired Mercenaries.
Bridge news recalled that the crisis which was long suspended was as a matter of misunderstanding arising from the Community motor park, renewed in January, sending thousands to their grave(s) and leaving properties worth trillions of naira destroyed beyond recognition.
It was against this backdrop that the said group accused the Ezzas of breaching the long created peaceful relationship whereby they noted how the accused became a part in Effium Community.
Addressing Newsmen in a statement made available before now, the Chairman cum Secretary of the Development Union, Abah Dominic Onwe Benedict, described the Ezzas as Ingrates and confused occupants of their land.
He further stated how the attention of the group had been drawn to what was described as lies-filled press release by an Assembly of the Ezza-Effium while they (Effiumites) condemn the ongoing crisis.
While he blamed part of the causes on political matters, he called on the arrest of those involved and justice to be done to the Assembly’s press releases, noting that such would be an added solution to ending the lingering crisis.
According to the statement;
“It is on record that the Ezzas are the ones attacking and killing. They have attacked Wobia, Enwenyi and Waatuna villages twice. They also burnt down Effium High School Effium and Community Secondary School Effium.
“We have seen that the same way it is difficult for the Ezzas in Effium to accept peace moves, the same way it is difficult for them to understand their genealogy and generational lines.
“The Ezzas in Effium are confused generation. At some points, they call themselves, Ezza-Effium. At another, Effium Indigenes of Ezza Ezekuna Extraction. Yet another, Igbo speaking Effium. No cohesion at all, no agreement, in whatever they do.
“The Effium people had occupied the Effium land as far back as the 13th century. In the map of old Ogoja division, Effium is located there. Rather than be more grateful to the Effiumites for accepting them in the 19th century, even when others rejected them, they now want to craftly claim indigenes .
“It is on record of 1911 that Effium people were persuaded to accept to marry the Ezzas and allow them cultivate our virgin lands. Again for 7 years, we fed these ungrateful Ezzas before giving lands to begin to cultivate.
“Infact, how can they address us as migrants when the old Anambra state wrote on 16th August 1976 to clarify Ishielu Division and referred to Ezzas as migrants and shifting in population and cannot be considered autonomous towns in their host in Ishielu Division; Effium inclusive.
“Our attention has been drawn to and we have noted the lies-filled press release by the so called Ezza-Effium Consultative Assembly held on 8th March, 2021 and have decided to put the record straight with substantial evidence.
“We are also concerned that rather than caution their Ezza warriors who have continually flouted several government directive on ceasefire or profer solutions for an end to the unnecessary crises, the assembly went on to encourage their warriors to continue the destruction and killing of Effium people. Little wonder barely 24 hours after the press release, Watuma village was attacked again, Mr. Agena Udeh and four others were killed and several houses set ablaze.
“In trying to swap actions to cover their unspeakable actions and tarnish the image of the Effium people, the assembly stated that while in a separate and joint meetings with His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi state, on 23rd and 24th February 2021 respectively, reports of attack by Effium warriors at Ugoeze/Onueroro and Okpobashi respectively, came in. They were quick to mention the purported number of lives lost without name
