EBONYI: RECONSIDER Planned Military Action Against Effium Community” – Group appeals to Gov. Nwifuru

Human Rights group in Ebonyi State, Ebonyi First Vanguard, has faulted the alleged disappearance of a soldier on peace mission in Akparata area of Effium Community, while appealing to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to reconsider his planned military action against the entire community as that will endanger innocent children, women and the injured who live as refugees in improvised camps in different parts of the community and muddle up the investigation process.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the group on Friday, 27th October, 2023 signed by the Director-general of the rights group, Monday Eze, following Governor Nwifuru’s announcement of its intention to take military action against the community if those responsible for the disappearance of the soldier fail to submit themselves to security agencies.

According to the group, the planned action will detract on the commitment of the Nwifuru administration to the mantra of Ebonyi Peoples Charter of Needs which has lifted many Ebonyians and gained positive traction in the hearts of even those who did not vote for Governor Francis Nwifuru.

“Encourage security agencies to deploy technological gadgets and other professional means of investigation to unravel the criminals and bring them to book instead of putting other innocent and vulnerable citizens of Ebonyi State living in squalid refugee camps in harm’s way through military action”.  The group appealed.

Mr. Eze suggested that security agencies should begin the investigation by arresting those who, on 22nd and 23rd September, 2023, allegedly breached the ceasefire agreement brokered by the retired Bishop Okoro Peace Committee and by quizzing the inhabitants of Akparata area from where the soldier got missing.

He reiterated that, “The inhabitants of Akparata area whom the soldiers were guarding should cooperate with security agencies and volunteer useful information to avert the calamity which military action portends to the entire community. This is important because the nearest refugee camps to Akparata are about 30 kilometers away and there is no movement in the war zone which Effium community has become.

They also called on security agencies who are allegedly attacking and burning refugee camps in Nwenewo and Ebeta villages, about 30 kilometers away from Akparata where the soldier got missing to pity the children, women and other refugees who have no other places to take shelter. Urging the security agencies to show restraint because protecting those soft targets was the basic assignment that brought them to Effium Community.

The group charged the general public and all friends of humanity who have useful information about the whereabouts of the missing soldier to kindly make it available to either security agencies or Ebonyi State Government. The group pleaded with those responsible for the disappearance of the soldier to repent and hand themselves over to security agencies instead of putting the entire community in danger.