By PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

Uncertainty has continued to trail the two-months old Ebonyi communal clashes which first occurred in 2008 and resurfaced at the end of 2011, claiming no fewer than 100 lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.  Palpable fear is still boldly written on the faces of  those living in the vicinity and motorists plying the area.

Passers-by also still express fears of imminent attack.  This is because of the commando-like manner in which the hoodlums often execute their dastardly act each time Ebonyi people go to sleep, with the notion that peace had returned to the two affected communities in the state.

Relative peace
So far, relative peace seems to have returned to the warring communities of Ezza-Ezilo in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi state after the unprecedented massacre of innocent  people who fell victims to the despicable activities of angels of death in human clothing.

The incident which occurred on December 31st 2011 led to the demise of over 66 persons while several others were hospitalized at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA.

According to reports, the incident also provoked the destruction of properties worth millions of naira and displacement of members of the affected communities.

In a bid to quell any further resurgence of criminal activities within the two communities, it should be recalled that over 248 police men from Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states were drafted to the area and are still there securing lives and properties.

Investigation revealed that the policemen have been stationed at various locations within the two communities to forestall any possible attack on Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN installations, the popular Ezillo water scheme and other structural facilities of government.

So far, reports emanating from the affected communities indicate that as relative peace seems to have returned to the area, businesses and other domestic or commercial activities have resumed spontaneously not minding the ugly episode that had taken place in the area.

Observably, motorists have since begun to ply the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway which runs across the affected communities  without fear of any possible attack by hoodlums who invaded the area about two months ago, a day before the 2012 new year celebration.

However, it is important to state that before commuters were able to gain confidence to ply the expressway; most of them were seen driving tirelessly through Abakaliki-Afikpo expressway, which is in a deplorable state, for fear of not falling into the hands of men of the underworld.

Policeman at work along the dreaded Enugu-Abakiliki expressway

Local Govt. boss speaks
The Chairman of Ishielu LGA of the state, Mr. Obinna Nwachukwu who appreciated the effort of government towards the provision of lasting peace in the two communities, observed that although peace has returned to the area, it was necessary for security operatives drafted to the area to be vigilant at all times so as to prevent any possible security breach that might crop up unexpectedly.

He further stressed that it was obligatory on the part of the security agents not to rest on their oars but to be proactive in the fight against any form of criminal resurgence.

Nwachukwu called on the two warring communities to embrace peace and oneness in settling their differences instead of resorting to violence or retaliation of any sort, even as he charged them to cooperate with the committee set up by the state government to ensure a lasting peace in the area and the state.

He blamed the attack on innocent citizens of the state on the activities of greedy politicians who want to use the opportunity created by the land dispute between the two warring communities to unleash mayhem on the council.

He said, “it is like unseen hands are sponsoring this problem. I want to believe that if this problem is just between Ezza and Ezillo, it wouldn’t go as far as it is going, but some greedy politicians are cashing into the situation and that is what is causing the problem.

In December time, I organized a peace rally which involved the State Security Service, SSS, the Police, Youths and Clergy and we were able to talk to the people to ensure that peace returned fully to the area. But little did we know that even outsiders who are not even from Ezza-Ezillo are plotting to cause mayhem in the area.

“I was so shocked myself on the early hours of December 1 to 2011, when I started getting negative reports and sincerely speaking, the report came from outside the local government area because every security report available to us revealed that the attack came from outside. Security men have been able to apprehend few people who are associated with it. I believe that the final solution will come when we are able to get the sponsors.

“I have always said that any idiot can carry gun and start shooting but not every idiot can afford to buy the kind of weapon they used. I believe that there are people behind the scene who are the sponsors and until those people are apprehended, we have not really solved the problems. In terms of dialogue, we are really discussing with the two communities but the unseen hands are the ones we want to bring to book.

“ We have made all efforts for indigenes of Ezza/Ezillo in Ishielu to live in peace and harmony, but before you know it, some unscrupulous politicians will organize some boys who would attack and then go their way. That is just the problem we are having.   Well, I wouldn’t know what would be the interest of an outsider if they are not Ebonyians. I believe the sponsors are from Ebonyi state.

“The road is safe. We have educated the people against blocking the expressway because that is a federal government road. We have been talking to them. The road is very free. There is enough security on ground and nobody will be molested on that road. From the official document I have with me, only 63 persons lost their lives in the last incident”, he added

Police reacts
During an interaction with Crime Guard on the level of security in the area, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, Adeola Adeniji, stated that the police men drafted to the trouble zone were still on ground to forestall any further act criminality.

According to him, commuters and motorists were free to ply the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway anytime of the day as security had been beefed up in the affected area, adding that officers drafted to the area had been directed not to mount any road block but to perform their duties with utmost civility and decency as stipulated by the Nigeria Police Act.

He said: “The problem of Ezza-Ezillo is not what only police can handle. It calls for all and sundry; the warring communities should learn to live together as one.”

They should embrace peace because without peace no meaningful development can be achieved. The state government has good intention for the warring communities.

“The road is very free and commuters are free to ply the road. I want to advice road users to report any act of road block along the trouble zone. Police are on the road for stop and search purpose wherever the need arises. They should cooperate with the officers on ground and call me if they notice anything on the contrary. I have already circulated my numbers to the citizens of the state”, he stressed.

A member of one of the communities who spoke on the condition of anonymity urged the state government to urgently address key issues that led to the crisis once and for all, lamenting that the number of those who lost their lives on December 1 constantly reminds him that absolute peace may never return to the area.

However, a cross section of Ebonyi citizens who spoke with Crime Guard alleged that some aggrieved and unscrupulous Ebonyi politicians could use the opportunity provided by the defeat of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, governorship candidate, Senator Julius Ali Ucha at the Supreme court by Governor Martin Elechi, to foment further trouble in the area as a way of expressing their dissatisfaction for the judgment.