Peace returns to Ebenebe after youths wade into communal crisis
Odogwu Emeka Odogwu
Peace has returned to Ebenebe Community after youths gave order for the unconditional release of their President General, Hon Paul Nnatuanya, who was arrested and detained in Abuja.
The President-General Ebenebe Town Union , Nnatuanya on release from police detention after the warning from youths, thanked all members of the Town Union Executive,the pillars of Ebenebe and the youths asking all to join hands in rebuilding the Community.
Nnatuanya, a former Secretary to the Awka North local government area Transition Committee said: ‘let’s build Ebenebe and shun communal crisis in our community’, even as he thanked all those who showed concern during for amicable resolution of the crisis. He said further: ‘ I want to thank you all for the extreme show of love and solidarity both towards me in person and entire community in general, since past few weeks.
‘ It is my personal believe that Ebenebe is not at war with itself or any of it’s component villages and kindreds but a case of misunderstanding.
‘ I therefore urge everyone both old and young to avoid creating any form of acrimony and rancor in Ebenebe as a result of my invitation to Abuja and subsequent arrest on thursday 23rd July 2020.
'The matter has been taken care of by police. I want to disassociate myself and team that visited Abuja from any form of voilence initiated,instigated, caused and carried out by any group in respect of the dispute in question.
‘ I still have the passion and zeal to move Ebenebe forward. Let us embrace peace and love one another for peace is panacea for development.l love you all. Long live Ebenebe iga’.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that, youths of Ebenebe in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State lamented the alleged unlawful detention and harassment of their President General, Hon. Paul Nnatuanya by the police.
The youths, who sought intervention of their traditional ruler, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbuna, on the matter, also expressed displeasure over destruction of ongoing building constructions designated for police station and magistrate courts in the community.
The property, sponsored by Anambra state government under it’s 20million Community-Choose-Your project, had some of its facilities destroyed in 2019 by unknown persons the youths suspected to have come from people laying claims to the disputed land where it was sited.
Comrade Calistus Nnebife, the Youth Chairman of Ebenebe, who led a delegation to the palace of their monarch, disclosed that Nnatuanya was not only detained for some days against his wish but had his private car confiscated by the law enforcement agents.
Nnebife, who disclosed that the act impacted negatively on the entire Ebenebe populace and development, urged the monarch to wade in by appealing to his kinsmen, Umudiaba kindred which is reportedly in the court with some villages over the land to face the opposing villages not the PG as he represents the entire community.
Also speaking, a Counsellor, Ebenebe Ward I, Hon. James Ilonwa, said their demands were necessary because according to him, the PG was peace loving and had no hand in the land under contention, hence needless detaining him over it.
On his part, an executive member of Ebenebe Town Union, Hon. Johnbosco Anaracha, who said the youths waded into the crisis with a view to resolving it amicably without loss of lives and property, reiterated that the talks would continue till peace is achieved.
Responding, the Traditional Ruler, HRM Igwe Christopher Nnaegbuna, who denied knowledge of when and why the PG was arrested, said the community had inaugurated some committees including clergies to broker peace in the community.
