Enugu/Abakaliki — Residents are now counting their losses after the ceasefire that followed Ezza/Ezzilo communal clash in Ebonyi State, while security forces have started recovering arms.

Though, the number of casualties and quantum of material losses are still not clear, the police command admits that much had been lost.

The hostilities ceased shortly after Governor Martin Elechi in the company of the Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Dipo Yeni, visited the area. Armoured tanks were seen in the area just as vehicles started plying the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway, which was before now dreaded by motorists.

However, motorists expressed fears that the guerrilla war might have ceased for a while, but going to the state capital, Abakaliki, through Afikpo might not be safe even as some others have started using the hot zone of the fracas in early or late hours of the day.

Some victims of the clash who spoke with Daily Independent sought the intervention of the state and federal governments in rehabilitating them and ensuring more measures to sustain the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, leader of Ezillo Military Peace Keeping team and the Commander of Nkweagu Military Cantonment, Col. Simon Gora, said the army recovered about 25 small weapons (locally made guns), five automatic weapons including four AK-47s and one large weapon as well as 495 rounds of ammunition.

He said their surveillance revealed that a lot of small arms were in circulation in the area and that both sides were fully armed, adding that there existed a long-standing mutual distrust.

The officer added that intelligence reports showed that both sides hired mercenaries to prosecute the war.

Meanwhile, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has petitioned Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, over alleged unlawful acquisition of land at Poperi in Amasiri community, Afikpo North Local Government Area by Ebonyi State Government for shooting range/training ground for the Nigerian Army.

In the petition on behalf of Poperi Youth Movement (PYM) signed by the South-East Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo, the group called on the Federal Government to urgently look into the matter and ensure that the Ebonyi State Government's action of locating a human settlement for Army shooting range/training ground was restrained and not allowed to portray the government of Nigeria as operating rule of the jungle.