By Moses Okorie
The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, to arrest the former Chief Press Secretary to Governor David Umahi, Emmanuel Igwe; the chairman of Ohaukwu local government area, Clement Odah and lawmaker representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Awo due to violence that erupted in their area, report said.
Coordinator of Effium Development Centre, Sunday Agbo and his Effium South DC Counterpart, Eucharia Ogwale, Special Assistant to the Governor in charge of Parks Development, Emmanuel Igwe as well as his counterpart on Youth Development, Frank Onwe, 30 other stakeholders from the area were also arrested.
It was earlier reported that no fewer than seven persons were feared dead while many were seriously injured as aggrieved members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW clashed in Effium Community. A source in the affected community explained that the clash was an upshoot of an existing leadership crisis in the Union.
According to the source, the faction of the Union from Effium clashed with the faction from Ezza Effium over sharing formula for the revenue generated from the park.
He said the clashes spilled into the community leading to casualties on both sides. Houses, cars and other properties were also touched as the crisis spilled over into the community. There was pandemonium in the community as the crisis escalated with many deserting the community to neighbouring communities.
Also, health workers and Staff of the National Population Commission, NPC, who were on assignment in the area were caught in the cross fire.
Following the incident, Ebonyi state government announced a ban on activities of the Union in Effium Motor Park on Saturday.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in the state, Mr Stanley Okoroemegha announced the ban in Abakaliki. Mr Emegha emphasized that the clashes engulfed the entire Effuim and Ezza Effium communities because the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the area allowed politicians to meddle into the affairs of the Union.