The Edda Elders Council has appreciated Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru for his swift intervention in the crises that befell the Edda clan in attacks by the people of Amasiri which led to deaths and economic losses.
The Council on behalf of the people thanked the government of Ebonyi State for a timely intervention to protect Edda from further losses in the hands of the Amasiri killers.
“In the first place, the unprovoked attacks, arson, beheading of our was uncalled for and condemnable.
However, Governor Nwifuru’s quick intervention and mitigating measures have been assuaging and enough to arrest further killings and bring back peace to, not only Edda, but also to Amasiri.
To checkmate the criminal excesses and incessant attacks on our people by Amasiri like in the most recent incident where six were killed, beheaded and their heads taken away to unknown destination as war trophies, we urge the security system to help recover the heads for decent burial of our slain kinspeople.
It is heartbreaking to recall that this primitive and callous act is in defiance of governor’s injunction to the people of Edda and Amasiri during the ground breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Army Training Depot, South East Zone, located along Amasiri/Edda road, when the governor charged the two parties to embrace peace or face the consequences of further crisis.
We remind Me. Governor that Amasiri had in a similar show of force two years ago without provocation invaded Okporojo Oso Edda at midnight, killed scores of innocent persons and set many houses ablaze. The State Government’s intervention through the creation of a buffer zone in the disputed parcel of land was flagrantly violated by the people of Amasiri.
However, we are satisfied with the positive steps taken by the state government so far and we have implicit confidence that these measures would nevertheless forestall future occurrence of the senseless and dastardly acts including the return of the heads of the innocent persons brutally killed.
Edda as a people will always prefer peace, civil redress, and genuine reconciliation to violence, and as such we are willing at all times to cooperate with the state government to ensure amicable resolution of the conflict.
The statement was signed by the chairman and secretary of the body, Barr. Livinus Item and Chief John Emegha respectively.
