By Deborah Nnamdi
A man identified as Godwin Odah has been reportedly killed, beheaded, and other parts of his body severed in Akparata village in Effium autonomous community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State by suspected warriors in the bush of the war-torn area.
It was reported that Odah was at the back of his compound plucking fruit when the suspected warriors attacked him, killed him, cut off his head, severed other parts of his body, and went away with them.
The killing of Odah in Akparata village is coming barely one week after the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, granted amnesty to 159 detainees arrested about the communal war, which has lasted for four years.
The President-General of Effium Town Union, Dr. James Agena, who confirmed the killing, described the killing as callous, brutal, and inhuman, coming at a time when the government is doing everything to restore lasting peace in the area.
He said that he had reported the matter to the security agencies, Chairman, and Secretary of the Peace and Implementation committee of the war-torn area.
”We are pained and devasted over the recent attack and killing of a poor farmer who was gruesomely murdered in his backyard while plucking fruits. He was shot from the tree, after which the suspected warriors from the other extraction of Effium severed his head, hand, and leg and went away with them, leaving the body.
“This is disheartening despite government efforts to restore peace in Effium. We strongly demand that the perpetrators of this dastardly act be arrested promptly to face justice.
“We have reported the matter to the security agencies in the state, some top government officials, Chairman of the Peace and Implementation Committee Chief Amb. Frank Ogbuewu Secretary Sen. Sonny Ogboji and other stakeholders. Some Ezza -Effium people are truncating the peace process again and the government should immediately work to stop further killings.
“I have called our people to remain calm and should not go for reprisal attack to take the law into their hands but to wait for the government and security agents’ action. We should sustain the peace already established by the governor” Agena stated.
Recall that the release of the detainees was part of the Ebonyi State government’s effort to restore peace in the community before the recent killing of Mr. Odah by suspected warriors.
Governor Nwifuru also stated during the amnesty that both stakeholders of Effium and Ezza Effium had signed an undertaking that there would be no relapse into war in the Effium Community arising from the release of detainees.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO DSP Joshua Ukandu on the incident he said that the matter had not gotten to the police desk.
