The people of Ezza-Effium, in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State that has been ravaged by communal crisis with Uffiom people, have condemned the decision of the Governor, David Umahi, to release the 31 Mercenaries arrested by soldiers at the peak of the crisis.
On Tuesday, the Ebonyi government said it has pardoned and will release 31 under-aged detainees at the correctional service remand home over their alleged involvement in the fratricidal Ezza/ Ezza-Effium conflict.
But Ezza-Effium Consultative Assembly, described the development as “unfortunate” adding that the crisis in the area is been politicized.
In a statement signed by Mr Aligwe Mathias Chukwuma and Mr Bernard Orichi; the chairman and Secretary, respectively, Ezza-Effium Consultative Assembly said “the aggressors have been making every efforts to frame every Ezza man either of Ezza-Effium origin or elsewhere into the crisis.”
The Assembly in a the statement issued on Tuesday wondered why a priest of the Catholic Church will still be in detention while the government goes ahead to release accused killers arrested in various parts of Effium while carrying out the directives of their paymasters.
The statement reads:
“We welcome you all to this press briefing!
This press briefing became necessary to address some issues that needs urgent press attention as concerning Ezza-Effium and Uffiom crisis.
“It is rather very unfortunate that everything has been politicized in this crisis between Ezza-Effium and Uffiom people as the aggressors have been making every efforts to frame every Ezza man either of Ezza-Effium origin or elsewhere into the crisis.
“Recall that Rev. Fr. Timothy Ngwuta was arrested on the 11th of December 2021, by police when he went to Nworie Mbeke Ishieke to see his parishioners taking refuge in the area. He was searched and nothing was find with him but because he is from Ezza-Effium community, he was later on taking to the state command headquarters for further intorogation from where everything was twisted, framed up and since detained. All efforts made to get him out were proved abortive as the state governor ordered that he should not be released. Instead, the government arraigned this innocent young man in the Court with the following count charges of murder of the missing NELAN Engineers, kidnapping and promoting communal war there by making it difficult to grant him bail.
“Yesterday, the state government rising from its Exco meeting, announced the release of some armed youths of uffiom extraction arrested by security operatives on different occasions in the warring zone of Effium Community. According to the commissioner for information Mr Uchenna Orjor, the said youths who are minors were brainwashed into carrying arms. But the questions left unanswered are; who recruited those youths to carry weapons? Who are those that brainwashed them? and who are the people making case for them? Since the government has just woken up to discover that the armed youths that have killing our people are minors, what efforts has been made to arrest their sponsors.
“Despite all these, the State Government went ahead to release those suspects without extending the same grace to the detainees of Ezza Effium extraction.
“It is obvious that the State Government who supposed to play an unbiased roles in tackling the problem in Effium have been seen in many occasions supporting actions that can be said to be biased, unjust and one-sided.
Otherwise, why would the government continued to hold an innocent Priest and so many other innocent Ezza-Effium sons in detention yet they busy releasing armed warriors who were caught red-handed with assault rifles?
“We of the Ezza-Effium consultative Forum while acknowledging some spirited efforts of the state Government in curtailing the lingering crisis in Effium community wish to State as follows;
“That the State Government should halt the release of those uffiom warriors who have mercilessly killed Ezza aged men and women including disabled and children alike.
“That the continued incarceration of Rev Fr. Timothy Ngwuta is unwarranted, this innocent Priest has nothing to do with the crisis in Effium except the fact that he is an Ezza man.
“That we demand the prosecution of the those individuals who the governor has severally accused to have been the cause of the crisis in Effium.
“That the State Government should invite Hon Frank Onwe, Emmanuel okpogo, James Agena, Fidelis Agena, Paul Okpogo, Emma Acha, Chinatu Edene and other elders from uffiom extraction who have been fueling the crisis with their inciting posts on Facebook.
“It will be a grave injustice to have allowed the individuals who were accused of being responsible for the crisis to walk freely whereas an innocent Priest is languishing in the prison.
“As we patiently wait for quick response to our prayers, we also pray that God will bless every sincere efforts to restore permanent peace in Effium. Long Live Ezza Ezekuna, Long Live Ebonyi State and Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!”
