Ezza-Effium Crisis: 'We're Victimised', Indigenes Cry Out

Our Reporter

The indigenous people of Effium autonomous community have raised alarm over the undue victimisation and continued unwarranted killings meted out to them by the Ezzas residents in the community.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Ogaba Godwin and Isih Martins who are Chairman and Secretary of Effium Indigenous Vanguard, accused top and influential Ezza stakeholders of sheilding the truth about ongoing pogrom in Effium by Ezza warlords and their hired mercinaries. 

According to the statement, it alleged that  this present crisis actually began brewing in 2020, after one Chinedu Awo (an Ezza man) was elected the member of Ebonyi state House of Assembly, representing Ohaukwu North Constituency (Effium Community inclusive) in 2019. 

They further accused the member representing Ohaukwu North Constituency, Hon. Awo Chinedu, who at any opportunity he finds himself in government, uses such to instigate the Ezza youths against the peaceful Effium people.

The statement further disclosed that the Ezza residents in Effium had in 2002 launched a deadly attack at Ugede village killing 30 Effium indigenes, in 2004 killed one Ekpe Oboh, in 2016, they also killed seven children of Effium indigenes before the mother of the war that broke out on 22 January,2021.

"It is  no longer news that the Effium crisis between Effium indigenes and Ezza residents in Effium started on Friday, 22nd January 2021 as a leadership tussle involving members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Effium Motor Park. 

"On different occasions, the Effium indigenes have been pushed to the wall by the 'almighty Ezza nation', using their kith and kin in Effium, christened 'Ezza-Effium' as the tool with which to annihilate us. But, we never forgot that vengeance is of God.

"In 2002, more than 30 villagers of Ugede were murdered in cold blood, including a pregnant woman whose tummy was cut open and the unborn child brought out and killed by the Ezzas, and we remembered that 'there is God'.

"In 2004, one Ekpe Obo was murdered, leading to rise of tension in Effium, but the leadership of Effium indigenes advised that we should leave it for God.

In 2016, after an unfortunate incident in the Effium Forest Reserve, seven of our children got missing; not minding the plea, the sacrifices and promises made by the Effium indigenes. Again, we left it on God, the statement read.