Effium - Ezza Communal Crisis: Ebonyi Govt. Presents Disarmament, Amnesty Programme To De-radicalize Warriors
In her efforts towards resolving the age long war between Effium and Ezza - Effium in Ohaukwu local government area, Ebonyi state government has put in place a disarmament and amnesty programm to prevent further escalation of the conflict and promote lasting peace and stability in the warring communities.
It said that the essence of the programme is to make the warriors that are in the bush fighting to surrender their guns willingly, government will forgive them and de-radicalize them because they are radical already.
The state government made this known through it’s committee on white paper implementation chaired by the Attorney general and commissioner for justice, Mr. Ben Odoh, during the signing of peace pact between Ezza and Effium stakeholders that took place at the old government house Abakaliki.
Odoh disclosed that those of the warriors that were already detained at the custodian centres, Ebonyi state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru will pardon them, and then they will be released, adding that those are prices for Peace.
ThisNigeria reports that the two groups; Effium and Ezza - Effium have been into war for close to three years and the war had resulted into the killings of thousands of people and destruction of valuable properties worth billions of naria.
The chairman of the white paper implementation committee reiterated the state government commitment towards ensuring the release of persons arrested in connection to the crisis.
He said that the state government is also willing to grant amnesty to the Ezza, Effium warriors, only if they will surrender their guns and allow peace to prevail and taskedthe warriors of Ezza and Effium community to drop their guns and embrace peace.
According to him: “we have achieved oneness between Ezza and Effium people. We had several meetings at several times with them differently, the Ezza group and the Effium group. We have been able to sign the peace pact.
“We read the peace pact, which is in consonant with the white paper and they have all signed, which means, they are ready for us to move into Effium to implement every letter in the white paper of the state government.
“The peace pact agreement is different with the white paper. The white paper has not been given to them, if there is anything else that is anti-people with their believe (Ezza) they know how to follow due process.
“We have achieved a thing today, this is because, government wants to grant amnesty and have a disarmament program, if people are not willing to do so, or show commitment, we can’t go ahead to so.
“Government is putting in place disarmament program, and we are also putting in place amnesty program. The essence of this, is to make the warriors that are in the pushing fighting to surrender their guns willingly. When they surrender their guns willingly, government will forgive them. And government will de-radicalize because they are radical already.
“And those of the warriors that are already detained at the custodian centres, and the governor Francis Nwifuru will pardon them, and then they will be released, and these are prices for Peace”
"As part of this program, all detainees related to the crisis will be included, with plans to facilitate their release and reintegration into society. The Abakaliki Correctional Center is expected to play a crucial role in this process" committee revealed", he stated.
Responding to the white paper implementation, the spokes man of Ezza Effium community, Barrister Utobo Onele said his people would not accept some of the documents presented by the peace committee, noting that the documents has somethings that would de-interest them but having been part of this government led by governor Nwifuru, we don't have any other ulternative but to promote peace and unit in Effium community.