The police in Ebonyi have arrested the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, and the lawmaker representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency, Mr. Chinedu Awo.
Our correspondent gathered that their arrest may not be unconnected to the recent killings and destruction of property in Effium and Ezza Effium communities, in the Ohaukwu Council area of the state.
Also Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has imposed a curfew in Effium community in the local government from 4pm to 8am with effect from Sunday, 24th January, 2021 to forestall further killings and destruction of properties in the area
The arrest of the duo was effected by new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aliyu Garba, on Sunday.
Also arrested were some 30 other major stakeholders from the communities, including Coordinators of Effium and Effium South Development Centres, Mr Sunday Agbo, and Mrs. Eucharia Ogwale, respectively.
A former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Special Assistant on Market Development, Emmanuel Uzor, as well Umahi’s aide in Charge of Parks Development, Mr. Emmanuel Igwe, were equally arrested.
Also arrested were a former lawmaker, who represented Ohaukwu North State Constituency and Governor David Umahi’s Special Assistant on Youth Development, Mr. Frank Onwe.
The arrests, it was gathered, were on the orders of the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe.
While declaring the curfew, Governor Umahi, in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, expressed worry at the unabated violence and wanton destruction of lives and property in the area.
Umahi further directed the Security Agencies to ensure the strict enforcement of the curfew and to deal decisively with any person or group of persons involved in killings and or destruction of property of the people.
The statement said, “The Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi, deeply frowns at the unabated violence and wanton destruction of lives and property in Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area”
“In his determination to restore peace and order, the Governor has imposed a curfew in Effium community from 4pm to 8am on daily basis with effect from Sunday, 24th January, 2021, until normalcy returns to the affected community”.
“The governor further directs the security agencies to ensure the strict enforcement of the curfew and to deal decisively with any person or group of persons involved in killings and or destruction of property of the people no matter whose ox is gored,” the statement added.
Meanwhile no fewer than Seven persons were feared dead, many seriously injured and properties worth millions of Naria destroyed as Efium community in Ohaukwu local government erupted with crisis as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers clashed in the area over the weekend
It was gathered that the crisis started in the community as a result of a leadership tussle rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Effuim Motor Park.
According to a source from the area: “The trouble started when a faction of the road transport union from Effium clashed with the faction from Ezza Effium over sharing formula for the revenue generated from the Effium park
He said the clashes spiked into the community leading to casualties on both sides.
Houses, cars and other properties were also torched as the crisis spilled over into the community.
As the crisis escalated with many deserting the community to neighbouring communities.
Following the incident, Ebonyi State Government announced a ban on activities of the Union in Effuim Motor Park in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in the state, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha, who announced the ban in Abakaliki said the clashes engulfed the entire Effium and Ezza Effium communities because the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the area allowed politicians to meddle into the affairs of the union.
He said that Ohaukwu Local Government authorities would be mandated to take over the park where the incident emanated from.
“It was not something that happened on the grounds of IPOB, neither was it a politically related matter; it was a national transport union case dragging the leadership of a motor park.
The commissioner said all government personnel on special national assignments in the community, who were trapped by the crisis, had been rescued while the area was calm, following the deployment of security men.
He warned that the government would bring to book all the politicians, whether serving in the government or in the opposition party, who played a role in sparking up the crisis.
