Traditional rulers from Edda local government area of Ebonyi state have called on the Police and government officials to stop prompt release of arrested suspects as a measure to control crisis.
The Monarchs gave the advise over the weekend amidst tears and tributes during burial ceremony of a 78 year old man in Ekoli community, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Johnson Okoro Obasi murdered by suspected political thugs.
Obasi was said to have been attacked by the political thugs in the community on 1st June this year during the crisis between two rival groups in the area which led to death of some members of the community with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
One of the Traditional rulers Etta Egor Akanu alleged that those arrested for killing some members of the community, have been freed, thereby causing disquiet in the area.
“Politicians sent their thugs to beat up Okoro Obasi and he died as a result of the attack. These politicians are evil men who don’t want the community to be in peace, they are the ones who killed Okoro Obasi.
“He was killed by boys who have been terrorizing our community and they know themselves. I am very happy that Okoro Obasi’s body was taken for autopsy and results showed that he died as a result of the attack by these thugs.
The Monarch advised,” Government should stop releasing all these people causing trouble in our community. Some persons were arrested for killing another member of the community, Nnachi Uzor and they were released from prison custody a month after being remanded by the court.
According to him, “These people are back terrorizing our community, there is disquiet in our community and all the things that were recommended during a peaceful meeting of stakeholders of our community and Governor Francis Nwifuru for lasting peace in our community, none of them have been done. What we are rather seeing is increase in the harassment, intimidation and fear in our community by these thugs”, he said.
Another traditional ruler, Thomas Ama who also expressed sadness over the killing of Thomas Okoro Obasi, called for immediate implementation of all the recommendations made during the community stakeholders meeting with Governor Francis Nwifuru to return normalcy to the troubled community.
He alleged that a particular group is still parading arms with which they use to terrorize members of the community against the Governor’s directive that every group must lay down arms.
On his part, a Former House of Assembly member and former Chairman of the local government council Eni Uduma Chima decried negative implications of politically induced crisis ravaging the area ,summoned the spirit of the dead to avenge his course.
“We mourn you in vigilance because your killers and their sponsors are still roaming free , showing neither sobriety nor remorse, fearing neither the laws of God nor the laws of men.
“Now, take up your sword in the spirit world and go after your killers and their sponsors”, he said.
