The Ebonyi government says 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.
Governor David Umahi disclosed this in Abakaliki while swearing in a new judge of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Paul Awada.
Mr Umahi added that the State Executive Council deliberated on the issue and decided to pardon the detainees as normalcy had returned to the area.
“These underaged detainees were recruited by stakeholders of the area and armed with sophisticated weapons such as AK-47 rifles. I did not hesitate to order for their detention in January but they have shown good conduct since then,” he said.
The governor also explained that Mr Awada’s swearing-in was delayed because he hailed from the community, which had lost several indigenes and property due to the conflict.
“We would be attracting God’s wrath if he was sworn in then but can do so now as normalcy has returned to the area. The two protagonists whose interests sparked the war – the local government area chairman and the house of assembly member representing the area, have also been granted bail,” he said.
Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe had earlier led some top government officials to visit the detainees at the remand home, Abakaliki.
Mr Igwe, while speaking to the detainees, commended them for their good conduct during their stay at home and admonished them to shun acts that led to their incarceration.
“The government will liaise with your parents to evolve ways of properly re-integrating you into the society to be useful,” he said.
He also promised to make a case for other inmates of the home incarcerated over other offences such as defilement.
“We would, however, meet with your parents and those of the victims of the defilement to assuage their anger and pain,” he explained.
One of the detainees (names withheld) begged the deputy governor for forgiveness and pledged to turn a new leaf.
However, their pardon is generating mixed reaction as the people of Ezza are questioning the rational for their pardon when they were responsible for the murder of 8 persons and torching several houses when they attacked Ebeta, an Ezaa village in Effium with AK 47 rifles, pump actions, axes and cutlasses.
A community source told JOURNALIST101 that contrary to the claim by the Governor that he ordered for their arrest, it was the military that arrested the underage fighters and handed them over to the Police.
