Diaspora group wants Nigerian govt to declare state of emergency in Ebonyi over killings

A group under the auspices of the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) have decried the alleged extra judicial killing of their kins which they put at 500, in Effium community, Ohaukwu Local Council of the state.

The association in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency in Ebonyi State to put an end to the killings.

The AESID president, Pascal Oluchukwu, claimed that 500 natives of the once peaceful community lost their lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the war allegedly provoked by the Korri natives to wipe out Ezza indigenes.

However, state officials put the figure of casualties at 15.

Read also: Ebonyi govt imposes curfew on crisis-ridden communities

The statement is coming on the heels of an attack on Tuesday by suspected hired militias in military camouflage in an Ezza-dominated village.

The group claimed that mercenaries had stormed Nwekendiagu village in Effium, an Ezza enclave, last Thursday, killing over 15 persons and burning over 200 houses, including a fuel station in the area.

Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi has ordered immediate dusk to dawn curfew in Effium to avert further killings.

Umahi made this known same Wednesday in a statement issued through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, in Abakaliki.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now