Umahi Suspends Two Council Chairmen Over Communal Clash In Ebonyi
By Joyce Aroh Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Governor, Engr David Umahi, has suspended two local government chairmen over the communal clash which resulted in the killings of over 11 persons including a family of six burnt to death by armed hoodlums in the state.
Fifty-one political stakeholders both elected and appointed were also suspended indefinitely pending when they ensure that peace is restored to the affected areas.
The governor had summoned stakeholders both from Abakaliki, Ikwo and Ohaukwu to his office in Government House, Abakaliki on Tuesday
The suspension is to take effect immediately as the governor directed the affected chairmen and political appointees of those affected areas to handover all government properties in their possession, while Chairmen to hand over to their Vice Chairmen.
Three traditional rulers who were accused of having a hand in the sponsorship of the crises were also suspended by the Governor
The civil servants who were alleged to have a hand in the crisis are to forfeit their salaries.
Governor said“ I had to cut shot my vacation due to the ugly incident … I first heard of the man that was butchered, then I heard of the three persons that were killed at Nweda market. I also heard of the people that were stab to death at Onicha Igboeze. People came to marry at Nri and the people because of the little problem were also butchered. I also heard the Benue problem, then this last incident of roasting people including a nursing mother and her child and I was told that the eight persons were from same family who came for their son’s matriculation, and I also told that three were killed with their bikes and I don’t know the total figures.
“We are placing the security of the area in the hands of the following persons and deputy Governor will hold a meeting with you people and you will sign an undertaken that if there is any further aggression between the Agila people that will result to our people being killed, you will present yourselves for arrest and prosecution.” Umahi said.
