Ebonyi First Vanguard, a human rights group, is raising concerns about the worsening hostilities in Effium Community, despite the federal government’s peace initiative that has kept a joint security team in the area since April 2021. The Director-General of the group, Eze, addressed newsmen in Abuja and expressed worry over the negative profiling of a section of the community by some security operatives and the dramatisation of the crisis in a recent video of policemen circulating on the internet. Eze called on the National Security Adviser and Inspector-General of police to investigate and ensure the neutrality of security personnel involved in the peace initiative.
In response, the Ebonyi State Police Command issued a statement dismissing the viral video of policemen in Effium as false and the work of detractors. The Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, explained that the police successfully repelled the attacks from Ezza fighters and no casualties or loss of arms or ammunition were recorded on the part of the police. However, the Colonial building used as Police Station was razed down in the ensuing gun battle, and reinforcement has since been sent to the police men, including arms, ammunition, and a gun truck. The statement assures that calm has been restored to the area and warns aggressors to lay down their arms or face the full wrath of the law.
Effium Community in Ebonyi State has been enmeshed in a communal crisis since 2021, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and valuable properties.
