• Former fighters surrender arms, get amnesty, training, empowerment from gov
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
They were recently granted amnesty by Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, following a crisis between their community in Ebonyi and a neighbouring community in Cross Rivers State.
The 51 repentant fighters, who were tagged vigilantes by the state government and the security agencies, which granted them the amnesty as well as trained and empowered them with N2 million each, were arrested, prosecuted and detained in prisons for years during the escalation of the crisis between the Egbor people of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River and Ekoli Edda community in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
But the repentant warriors said after risking their lives for their community, they are being rewarded with threats, petitions, allegations and all forms of intimidation by some members of the community, especially those that sabotaged their efforts when they were defending the community.
There was tension in the community recently at a thanksgiving programme organised by the former fighters when suspected political thugs stormed the Egbebu playground venue of the event to disperse those that had come for the programme.
The suspected political thugs dismantled canopies mounted for the programme. They also threw away plastic chairs and spoiled decorations for the event.
The repentant warriors alleged that they have been suffering all manner of intimidation in the hands of some members of their community who had joined forces with their opponents from Cross River to kill the Ekoli Edda people and destroy their property.
They called on Governor Francis Nwifuru and security agencies to intervene.
One of them, Enya Okoro Ekuma told Saturday Sun that immediately they were released from detention, some members of the community called them and warned them not to step their feet into the community.
‘After one week that we were released from 344 Artillery Brigade, Ezillo, we came back home. Meanwhile, they had threatened us that we should not come home.
“They wrote a petition against us and the Commissioner of Police invited us. After her investigation, the CP discovered that they were lying and she warned them to leave us alone.
“Now, we were doing our thanksgiving when these people we are talking about came to disrupt the programme. They pulled down our canopies, scattered our plastic chairs and spoiled our decorations.
“We are calling on our dear governor to come to our aid because the threat we are receiving is too much. Let his Excellency and the CP come to our aid. I will remain peaceful so long as the threat doesn’t get to the level of taking my life”, he stated.
Another repentant warrior, Sunday Udu Orji, recalled that their freedom was not easy.
He alleged that some persons from the community fought very hard to ensure that they did not get the amnesty.
Orji disclosed that those who fought against their return to the community cooked up a petition, accusing them of killing people and burning houses after their freedom. He said the police investigated and discovered that they never did such things.
“We abandoned our families, slept in the bush for years, risked our lives just to protect our community and we are now being rewarded by some members of our community this way,” he lamented.
Kalu Igwe Udu who is also one of the repentant warriors, said they will continue to be law- abiding, despite the provocation.
“We are law abiding members of the community and we will continue to be so. But some members of the community don’t want us, they are not happy with the amnesty that our governor granted us. We are happy that security agencies were around and witnessed everything they did and they will report what they saw. We don’t look for troubles, they are the ones tormenting us,” he stated
The 51 warriors that were arrested by the military surrendered their weapons which included eight mortar bombs, 29 AK- 47 rifles, and 21 pump-action guns.
After laying down their arms, they were trained in different skills by the military, through the amnesty programme of the state government. They undertook training in carpentry, electrical, solar installation, fishery, poultry farming, and paint production, among others.
Each of them were given N2 million by Governor Francis Nwifuru during their graduation at Ezillo Barracks, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state where they were trained for six weeks.
In his speech on the occasion, the General Commanding Officer, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye said the graduation ceremony stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Ebonyi State Government to fostering peace, security and sustainable development.
“These young men, who were once drawn into communal conflict with their neighbours in Egbor, Biase LGA of Cross River State, have demonstrated remarkable courage by choosing a path of peace, reintegration and productivity.
“In recognition of this bold step, the governor approved this six-week reorientation, skill acquisition, and empowerment programme.
“These participants were taken on series of reorientation lectures by resource persons carefully selected from universities.”
Governor Francis Nwifuru, in his remarks said the event was a bold and historic step towards healing the wounds of the past and building a brighter future for the state.
“We are here to grant amnesty to 51 of our brothers, our sons, fathers, and uncles, who were caught in the web of a conflict that has caused pain, loss, and division among our people. But this is not just an event; it is a turning point. It is a moment of redemption, renewal, and hope.
“The crisis that brought us here today has its roots in the Eastern Region Estate Investment (EREI) Farm Settlement—a project that was meant to be a symbol of unity and prosperity. Established by the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara, the settlement was a testament to what we could achieve when we worked together.
“But over time, inconsistencies in agricultural policies, mismanagement, and the fragmentation of the settlement across Abia, Ebonyi, and Cross River States sowed seeds of discord. The conflict escalated when the Egbor people of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River allegedly leased the NIFOR plantation, which largely belongs to the Ekoli Edda community, without proper consultation.
“This act, coupled with the failure to adhere to the pre-2018 joint harvest arrangement, led to violent clashes that claimed lives, destroyed property, and deepened mistrust among our sister communities.
“In the face of this crisis, the Ebonyi State Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other stakeholders, took decisive steps to restore peace. The establishment of the Army Forward Operating Base in Urugbam, Biase Local Government Area, was a critical intervention that helped to de-escalate tensions.
“The disarmament programme initiated by the Nigerian Army, in partnership with our government, was a turning point. It demonstrated the willingness of the Ekoli Edda vigilante members to lay down their arms and embrace peace.”
Nwifuru said the N2million he gave to each of them was an investment in their potential, their dreams, and their ability to contribute to the growth and development of the state and urged them to make judicious use of the funds to actualize the objective.
Former Chairman, Edda Local Government Area, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima called on Cross River State Government not to lease the Nigeria Institute for Oil Research plantation (NIFOR) which largely belongs to Ekoli Edda community in Ebonyi State.
He urged the governors of Ebonyi and Cross River states to interface with the National Boundary Commission to trace and demarcate the land, noting that the people of Ekoli-Edda were open to peace.
Chima explained that the disarmament of Ekoli-Edda vigilante was hinged on the confidence he has in the professionalism of the Nigerian Army, even as he called on the people of Cross River to emulate the Ekoli-Edda people.
“And we want to use the opportunity to plead with the government of Cross River State not to lease the palm plantation because the land of Ekoli people is inside that plantation.
“Let them instead use their influence to bring to bear the national boundary commission to quickly come and do tracing and demarcation of the boundary area, so that we will know which place belongs to who. It is only after tracing and demarcation that we can point out which community is violent or offensive or which is not.
“As Ekoli people, we are open to any formula they want to use. They can use the Kalum Ali panel report, the Irikaibe panel report, Mamanazi panel report or Decree 23 of 1985 or anyone they consider favorable to them. We are peace loving people.”
He advised the beneficiaries to utilize the two million given to them by the governor to enable them attract more.