Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the arrest of a local government chairman and others after four members of the peace committee set up by Ebonyi and Benue state governments to resolve the boundary dispute between the people of Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi and their neighbouring Agila, Ardo Local Government Area of Benue, were beheaded in the state.
A week ago, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Benson Abonu, and his Ebonyi counterpart, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, held a meeting at Government House, Abakaliki, and inaugurated three committees— Inter-Community Peace Committee, Ohaukwu/Ado Inter-Local Governments Peace Committee and a technical committee with members drawn from National Boundary Commission, Office of Surveyor-General of the Federation and Surveyors-Generals of Ebonyi and Benue states— to end the boundary killings affecting both sides of the divide.
From reports available yesterday, four members of the peace committees who are indigenes of Ngbo were beheaded, with two injured.
They were ambushed and on their way to a meeting in Benue State over the crisis.
…angry governor
Displeased by the development, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State summoned the affected stakeholders to a meeting.
Briefing the governor at the Government House, Abakaliki, Chairman of the local government, Clement Odah, said: “Each time we meet and agree that peace should reign, Agila people will always breach that peace. This one is one of such breaches.”
Responding, Governor Umahi said: “I am not a fool. These things are done by you people. There is no any other person that did it. How can you say that these people killed were ambushed? I have asked them to audit all your resources that is from Ohaukwu Local Government.”
Umahi ordered the Police and Department of State Services, DSS, to arrest stakeholders from the area including the council Chairman, Odah, and interrogate them over the crisis and that those arrested will be going to the Police and DSS everyday over the matter after their bail.
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