Many people have been kidnapped, and one Ebubeagu operative killed in a violent clash between Enyigba and Enyibichiri communities in Ebonyi, says Governor David Umahi.

Mr Umahi said this while addressing stakeholders from the troubled communities and the state’s Security Council members at the Government House, Abakiliki.

According to him, an operational vehicle belonging to the outfit was burnt during the renewed conflict, described as unprovoked.

“We did our best to permanently demarcate the boundary between both communities, but the Enyigba people, who felt shortchanged, failed to comply.

“I inquired about the steps government should take for peace to reign, and the demarcation was carried out by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, all to no avail. They proposed a N20 million electricity project which I accepted,” Mr Umahi said.

The governor, however, regretted that while he was working on the proposal, miscreants from the community kidnapped an unspecified number of Enyigba indigenes.

He disclosed the Izzi clan, which includes Enyigba, did not take the matter lightly.

According to him, it took the intervention of stakeholders from the clan, including the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, to douse the tension.

“I called a meeting of the Enyibichiri people and requested for information on the whereabouts of the kidnap victims to be able to take necessary actions if they have been killed.

“I got most of the stakeholders detained and will effect massive arrest in the area if the whereabouts of the victims were not known by June 13,” the governor further explained.

Mr Umahi also regretted the renewed hostilities between the Effium and Ezza-Effium natives in the Effium community of the Ohaukwu local government area.

“It is regrettable that no relative of major stakeholders from the community has been killed because no one life is inferior to another.

“I have ordered the re-arrest of the coordinators of the two LGA development centres of the area among other stakeholders and the withdrawal of all their security details. I have also placed an embargo on appointments from the area until the end of my administration,” said the governor.

He added that the measure became necessary, considering that Ebonyi had been ranked high on the international insecurity index.

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, reinforced the governor’s position, saying the command had made several arrests connected with the abduction.

“The police will ensure that all those involved in various forms of criminality in the state are arrested and prosecuted,” Mr Garba added.

(NAN)