News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The people of Ezza-Ezekuna community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State have called on the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to save them over the constant attacks and killings of their people by suspected Effium warlords from Akparata community of Ebonyi State.
Former secretary of Ado local government council and president general of Ezza-Ezekuna Benue Development Association(EEBDA), Lady Perpetual Okafor said in the latest attack, Four of their people were killed on Thursday by suspected attackers from Akparata, Effium axis of Ebonyi State.
In an open letter to the Governor which was dated 13th December, 2023, (Friday) and sighted by our correspondent, was copied to the Chairman Ado LGA, Special Adviser Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Commissioner of Police, Director DSS, Operation Whirl Stroke and the Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission.
The letter signed by Lady Perpetual Nkechi Okafor, a former Secretary, Ado LGA, who is also the President General, Ezza-Ezekuna Benue Development Association (EEBDA), signed the letter on behalf of Concerned Ezza-Ezekuna Benue State Citizens.
In the letter, the people of Ezza-Ezekuna community is appealing to Governor Alia who to liaise with his Ebonyi State counterpart to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to book and put an end to the unwarranted killings and incessant attacks on Ezza people.
Lady Okafor who expressed worry over the situation said their people can no longer go to market, farms or worship centres, while their children have stopped going to school for fear of being attack and killed by Effium warlords of Ebonyi State.
“This scenario, your excellency, I’m afraid, is about to get worse unless you rise swiftly to the occasion and act decisively to avert the impending calamity in our beloved area. Hence, our people can no longer go to market, farms and worship centres, while our children have stopped going to school for fear of being attack and killed by Effium warlords of Ebonyi State.
“Indeed, this recently cold reality stared us in the face in a rude and shocking manner because there was no recent disagreement between the two communities before the attackers came to carry out their nefarious act.
“It is in this context, and to further forestall a situation where our peaceful community and our LGA will become a killing field or haven, that we are pleading with you to quickly rework the security of the state, particularly to accommodate the area that are now being threatened by these Effium warlords from Ebonyi state.
While condemning the killing of their people, the community called on governor Alia to urgently intervene to halt further killings.
“This heart wrecking act revisits the attacks on our people in January 2021, where our people were callously killed without any reason by this same Effium warlords of Ebonyi State. Since then, we the Ezza-Ezekuna people of Benue state have not known peace because there is no day passes that there would be no case of killing in our community.
“Sir, this heinous crime is not done under the covers or at night. The dastardly act were being perpetrated in broad daylight, when people, including children, were moving about the environment. So, all our communities are now under siege by Effium warlords from Ebonyi State, enthroning anarchy into Benue State.”
They expressed fear that if nothing is done to stop the killing, the situation could degenerate to full blow war.
“Our people remain perpetually helpless in the face of their killers who usually come to launch unprovoked attacks on them. This yesterday (Thursday) killing has the potential of heightening the tension between the two communities but with God, all will be fine.
“Your Excellency, as concerned citizens of this state, we cannot fold our hands and watch these egregious acts continue to go on without drawing your kind attention to it.
“We, hereby, implore you, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, to liaise with your Ebonyi State counterpart to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to book and put an end to these unwarranted killings and incessant attacks on our people. We don’t have any other place to go other than Benue state”, Okafor lamented.
The Ezza/Effium crisis, which started in Effium community in Ebonyi state, spilled into Ado LGA in Benue State because of the presence of both Ezza and Effium people in Ado local government.
