By Celestine Okeh, Abakaliki
The commission of enquiry into Ekoli and Amoso Edda killings has presented its report to Ebonyi State Executive council, recommending that perpetrators of the crime face the full weight of the law.
This was made known to journalist in Abakaliki by the commissioner for information and state orientation, Barr Uchenna Orji while briefing newsmen after the state Executive Council meeting, Monday.
According the commissioner,
"Exco received a report of the Peace and reconciliation Committee on Edda crisis and noted the highlights of the findings and recommendations which are as follows:
Findings:
"Political supremacy struggleTown Union leadership struggle for Ezeship stool and method of choice of the Eze of the Autonomous Community.
Boundary dispute between the Community and its neighbouring community, Erei in Cross River State.
Recommendations:
"All culprits in the last attack on the good people of Ekoli Edda should squarely face the consequences of their action.
"Government may consider assisting those whose properties were destroyed and those who lost their dear ones should be given compassionate considerations.
The National boundary Commission Should intervene in the boundary dispute between Ekoli Edda and Erei in Cross River State.
"At the expiration of the current Exco of Ekoli Edda Town Union, there should be no further extension of time to the Town Union but election should be conducted in line with their constitution or a caretaker committee be set up after dissolving the incumbent leadership in order to make way for lasting peace and reconciliation. Government may decide to create additional autonomous community in the area in order to permanently solve the Ezeship tussle in the area.
"The attack in Amaoso is an isolated incident targeted at the Ebubeagu official from Amaoso and this may have been caused by the miscreants who feel that Ebubeagu should be kept-off the road so they can continue to unleash terror on the people.According to the report, Ebubeagu has helped in keeping the peace of the State and the communities thereof. The committee therefore suggested that the masterminds of the heinous crime against the Ebubeagu official at Amaoso be fished out and punished according to law, while government should assist the young man who lost his wife and unborn child.
Exco noted the report of the committee and thanked immensely the committee members for their report and assured the committee that Government will consider the content of the report with a view to ensuring that justice was done. Exco also adopted the Peace Committee as a standing Committee".
Orji revealed that the state Executive Council equally approved a composition of review committee to further examine and scrutinize the report.
The members of the Exco review Committee are Follows:
SSA Legal - Chairman.
SSA Higher Education
SA Lands and Survey.
SA Local Government - Secretary.
According Barr Orji, the committee is expected to present its report in the next Exco. Exco also approved that assistance be given to the family of the APC Chairman whose household was attacked during the incident.
Recall that political thuggs alleged to have been sponsored by the former Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Eni Iduma Chima, on 26th December 2022, unleashed mayhem on Ekoli community which led to the killing of Emeka orji, younger brother of Ebonyi APC chairman Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, his police orderly, Inspector Festus Akpan, a youth leader, Eseni Agwu and burning of the house of Chief Emegha, burning of his Toyota Hilux and Sienna bus among others.
The incident led to a violent unrest in the entire Community which led to the state government's deployment of security into the area to quell the situation.
Similarly, another attack was lunched at the home of the Afikpo South Commander of Ebubeagu security outfit, Mr Kalu Chima, resulting in the killing of his Seven months pregnant wife and his two houses completely razed down by the attakers. An attack allegedly led by a serving Development Center Coordinator from Afikpo South, who has been in the police custody over the act.
The report however, advocated that justice be served in the matter to assuade the victims of heinus act.
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