In what came as a
surprise, Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, ordered the arrest of
government officials from two warring communities in Ikwo local government area
of the state, on Thursday.
Umahi
gave the order in Abakaliki, the state capital, during an enlarged security
meeting convened on the communal clash between Ekpomaka and Inyimegu
communities of the area.
The
governor said he had information that those whose arrest he ordered were
involved in the crisis affecting the area.
The
governor, who was livid with rage, asked Tituts Lamorde, commissioner of
police in the state, to arrest Fidelis Okpata, his deputy chief of staff,
traditional rulers and government officials present at the meeting.
He
also ordered the arrest of those who were not present at the meeting including
Frederick Udogu, chairman of Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board, and
Eso Udogu, ccoordinator of Ikwo South Development Centre.
Umahi
directed Cletus Ofoke, commissioner for justice, to obtain a court order to
detain them.
“They
should remain in detention until they sign an undertaking that no further life
would be lost or property destroyed in both communities,” he said.
“I
don’t mind losing all the votes from the areas but I will not keep quiet and
watch people die unnecessarily and properties destroyed due to irrelevant
issues.”
He
ordered his aide-de-camp to lock all the doors of the state executive council
chamber to prevent the affected persons from leaving the chambers.
Immediately,
the police arrested the officials.
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