BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
Former Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government, Prof. Benard Odoh, has urged the state government to take bold steps towards ending the communal crisis that is ravaging the Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area and other parts of the state.
Odoh made the call in his end of the year message, saying that the sponsors of the killings in the warring communities in the state should be brought to book irrespective of their class in a bid to serve as deterrent to others.
The crisis in Effium community commenced in February following the disagreement among members of the National Road Transport Workers on collection of tolls which degenerated into communal clash and resulted to loss of lives and properties worth billions of naira.
The former SSG said, “The year ending has brought a mixed grill of fortunes and misfortunes for the people of our dear state with worsening insecurity, attacks and hardships occasioned by economic downturns.
“I condole with those who lost their loved ones in the unrests witnessed in different parts of the state this year, in particular, the protracted case of the once peaceful Effium community. I urge the state government to take some decisive steps to end the killings in the state and bring the perpetrators to book, whilst ensuring that innocent members of the affected communities do not suffer avoidable deprivations.
“In all of this however, we yet have good reasons as Ebonyians to celebrate and be hopeful when we reflect on certain individual and collective accomplishments of our people in the socio-economic, academic and religious spheres in the year. For instance, it gladdens the heart and calls for celebration to recall that an Ebonyi literary guru, Obinna Udenwe, emerged winner in the maiden edition of Chinua Achebe’s Association of Nigerian Authors Annual Award with his book, ‘Colours of hatred’ which was also announced the first runner-up in the highest Literature award in the country – the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Prize for Literature.”
