Ebonyi Govt authorises release of white paper on communal disputes

The Ebonyi Government has directed that white-papers of reports on the Ezza/ Ezza Effium and Isinkwo/ Abaomege communal conflicts be released immediately.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected communities in Ohaukwu and Onicha Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ebonyi had been engaged in fatricidal communal conflicts.

The conflicts had resulted in loss of several lives and property as efforts made to quell them in the past failed.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor, made the disclosure on the white papers while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Dec. 22.

Okpor said that the state governor had inaugurated an implementation committee to ensure that the recommendations of committees set up on the conflicts are fully implementated.

“The implementation committee is headed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Odoh,” he said.

He noted that the Secretary of the Committee on the Ezza/Ezza Effium communal conflict, Rev. Fr Charlse Otu, thanked the government for the opportunity to serve the state in such capacity.

“The secretary expressed optimism that the implementation of its recommendations would provide permanent solutions to the conflict.

“The Secretary of the Committee on the Isinkwo/ Abaomege conflict, Prof. Wilberforce Oti, said that the committee followed its terms of reference strictly in the discharge of the assignment.

“He submitted that they consulted archival materials, prominent elders and took submissions from members of the warring communities,” the commissioner said.