Lagos — Ngbo neighbours. Governor Elechi therefore announced that the original portion of land at Egu-Echara given to Ezza-Ezillo settlers measuring about 52 hectares has now been increased to 310 hectares, explaining that the period of curfew was to allow Ezza-Ezillo people who were living outside the newly approved settlement to relocate and also allow the Ezillo indigenes living within the approved settlement to equally relocate to their kiths and kin on the other side.

He said, "Not later than 12.00 noon on Friday October 3, 2008, all police personnel hitherto posted to the violence-torn parts of Ezillo for purposes of peace-keeping shall pull out. They shall be replaced by military personnel only. This is to ensure that those who may be foolish enough to test our resolve are handled in a typical military way. A dust-to-dawn curfew is imposed on the entire Ishielu Local Government Area, except on Federal Highway from Abakaliki to Enugu. The curfew will last throughout the 90 days unless the prevalence of peace necessitates an early review".

Elechi explained that the peace committee that was earlier set up would continue its work by serving as Implementation and Reconciliation Committee during the transition period, stressing that the new land into which Ezza-Ezillo people were moving does not in any way constitute an autonomous community.

"The Ezzas there will continue to be known as Ezza-Ezillo and shall not import into their new settlement the names of markets or communities of their ancestral abode. Cultural observances, especially with regard to new yam festivals, will continue to be observed within the custom and traditions of Ezillo Community which is the overall umbrella of the entire place. There is for now only one traditional ruler for Ezillo Community into whose cabinet the Ezza-Ezillo will appoint their representatives," he declared.

The governor ordered that all weapons procured by both sides in the course of the hostilities should be reported to the nearest military road block, warning that the military personnel are directed to stop and search any vehicle or group of people and any location including houses in Ishielu council area which they justifiably suspect to be harbouring offensive weapons.

However, no sooner was the announcement made by Governor Elechi than the Ezza Ezillo people went to court to stop the implementation saying that it would be unfair to force them to vacate from a place they have been living for decades. The matter has trapped in the labyrinth of court adjournments till date.

Meanwhile, the entire saga is assuming a political dimension following the recent escalation of hostilities. In fact about 24 hours before the renewal of hostilities, the state government had alerted of massive importation of arms and ammunition and a grand design to bomb Ezillo Water Scheme located within the Ezillo community by some hired militants. The state government through the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Egwu Chima accused some politicians of Ebonyi extraction based in Abuja as sponsors, alleging that their aim was to use the Ezillo and Ezza Ezillo crisis as a guise to cause political instability ahead of 2011 election.

The state alleged heavy importation of arms and ammunitions for the mission, stating that confirmed security reports indicate that the famous Ezillo Water Scheme, which the state government had committed millions of naira for rehabilitation works, has been earmarked for destruction with imported explosives, alleging that an attempt was made a few days ago.

Addressing a press conference at Government House, Abakaliki, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Comrade Egwu, who was flanked by his counterparts in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Mr. Celestine Nwali and Ministry of Grants and Donor Agencies, Elder Fred Udogu, maintained that "the hirelings are already on the prowl, ready to unleash mayhem in Ezillo any moment from now".

"What is most painful, most unfortunate and awfully regrettable is that these evil plans are the handiwork of our own Ebonyi people most of whom are domiciled in Abuja," he alleged.Comrade Chima said that some of the Abuja based politicians are known to have indulged in sponsorship of inciting, offensive, injurious, misleading newspaper publications against the state government as well as equally sponsoring destabilizing rumours, motivating disobedience to Government directives and catalysing insecurity and doing everything to ensure that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state executive is destabilised.

In the text of the press conference entitled, "The Ezillo Security Imbroglio and the Political Enemies' Unending Verdict," the Information Commissioner stated, "A group of evil-minded political cynics in our small state of Ebonyi have hired mercenaries to further complicate the already bad situation in Ezillo; this is also coming at a time all well-meaning Ebonyians are celebrating their amiable Governor, Chief Martin Nwancho Elechi for his good works".

Surprisingly, in less than 72 hours after that red alert, five persons were reported killed following renewed shooting in the disputed area.

But in a quick rebuttal, Senator Julius Ucha (PDP, Ebonyi Central) and two members of the House of Representatives from his senatorial district, Monday, challenged State Government to name the Abuja based politicians it claimed incited the recent spate of killings in the state. At a briefing in Abuja, the legislators accused the state authorities of culpability in the violence, claiming that it was the "case of the witch crying at night and the child dying in the morning."

Senator Ucha who addressed newsmen on behalf of Reps. Igwe Nwagu (PDP, Ezza North/Isheilu) and Chima Ugo (PDP, Ikwo/Ezza South), spoke against the background of the reported 21 month conflict in the state which the legislators claimed had led to the blocking of the Enugu/Abakiliki highway and resultant killing of innocent persons. They particularly found fault with the claim by Egwu, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Information that Abuja based politicians were the ones stoking the violence.

"We also wish to express our shock and disbelief on the recent media reports, which claimed that Abuja based politicians of Ebonyi extraction are responsible for the renewed hostilities," Senator Ucha who read the prepared speech on behalf of the legislators said.

"While it is not in our character to answer to frivolous and unsubstantiated accusations, we as elected representatives of our people cannot ignore mischievous claims by misguided elements."

"We are amazed that in spite of various efforts made by us and the government to end this unwarranted and protracted conflict, some misguided elements are now politicising the crisis by pointing accusing fingers to entire elected representatives of the state, in National Assembly. We view this as grave accusation that needs to be substantiated by those who made the allegation."

Challenging the state authority to name the Abuja politicians who allegedly instigated the crisis, Senator Ucha said:

"That the state government should as a matter of honour take the next step of immediately disclosing such Abuja politicians as alleged, with a view to handing them over to the security agencies for appropriate action."

"That we condemn the on-going conflict in its entirety. Our entire political trajectory has been peaceful, devoid of violence. We cannot change now, as the saying in our area goes that it is risky for one to learn new dancing steps at old age."

The lawmakers further affirmed that the crisis was not in any way linked to the 2011 elections as alleged by the State Commissioner of Information, Egwu.

"Linking the renewed hostilities in the area to the 2011 general elections is the high point of insensitivity, unfortunately coming from people who are presumably well informed. We cannot and should NOT be chasing rats while our common house is caught in inferno."

The state government on its part reacted immediately through a statement issued by the Personal Assistant to the Governor, Chief Abia Onyike. The state government accused Senator Ucha, and the two members of the House of Representatives; Hon. Paulinus Igwe Nwagu and Chief Innocent Ugo Chima of masterminding the communal crisis between Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities for selfish political reason. In the statement, Onyike reacting to a press conference by the lawmakers in Abuja which they allegedly "blamed the state government for the escalation of the Ezillo-Ezza communal conflict", maintained that the lawmakers seem to be deriving pleasure and expecting benefits from the crises because of their self-acclaimed antagonism to the state government, all targeted at the struggle for political power in 2011.

"It is not out of place to suspect that these elements who claim to be the representatives of the people have of late engaged in mass arms acquisition and accumulation of dangerous weapons with which they arm a warring faction in order to exacerbate the conflict," Onyike said in a statement made available to Sunday Champion.

The Media Assistant to Governor Elechi said that the press conference by the lawmakers was the latest in their serial acts of sabotage, alleging that the Abuja-based politicians did not take any step in scaling down the conflagration in their constituency but rather maintained reticent disposition of dumb silence since the crisis started.

"Perhaps having orchestrated and nurtured the crisis from behind the scenes, the senator, in his latest media outpourings is perceived by many as showing off part of his tactics for political relevance in 2011, having contested the 2007 guber primary elections and loosing to the incumbent Governor, Chief Martin Nwancho Elechi," he said.

Onyike stated that Senator Ucha and the two other lawmakers' political strategy were anchored on escalating the communal conflict with the aim of derailing Governor Elechi's administration. He recalled that the crisis in Ezillo between the Ezza and Ezillo groups started over the erection of telephone booth between two persons from the warring communities.

"Unfortunately, this minor clash escalated leading to the loss of lives and property. The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi promptly intervened into the matter, having cut short his trip outside the state to visit the community. The Government urgently set up a high-powered mediatory committee of eminent citizens from the State, headed by the Traditional Ruler of Izhia, Eze Chibueze Agbo, Ogaba Idu II.

"Other influential members of the committee included Senator Offia Nwali amongst others. Government heavily relied on the well-informed report and recommendations of the Committee, leading to the demarcation of the Ezillo-Ezza boundaries. The State Government has sustained security presence in the troubled communities. This was followed by surveying the disputed land and the provision of social amenities such as access roads and a plan to provide water and electricity," he noted.

Onyike added that following the dangerous dimension which the conflict has taken and the loss of innocent lives, including those of two policemen, who were on duty post, "the Ebonyi State Government would no longer tolerate the continuation of these heinous plots and dangerous conspiracies, and the bloody consequences they entail."

He called on Ebonyians and other residents in the State to continue to be peaceful in their conduct and to go about their normal duties as normalcy returns to the affected communities.

Meanwhile, Governor Elechi recently visited the war scene where militants blocked the Enugu-Abakaliki express road for two days as Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities engaged in the latest bloody war. Governor Elechi who shuddered at the level of wanton destruction of life and property along the road also inspected the Ezillo Water Scheme a multi-billion facility located in the area, where the warlords had attempted to bomb. Five corpses including that of two policemen, a pregnant woman and a little girl were earlier removed from the road by officials of the Ebonyi State Environmental Protection Agency (ENSEPA)

Our reporter on the governor's entourage observed that a total of 15 vehicles including five Hilux vans were either riddled with bullets or burnt down completely even as the entire scene still oozes with acrid stench of human decay. A large number of regular and mobile police men have been deployed at every inch of the road to stop and search every passing vehicle and also stop the militants, who now operate in a guerrilla fashion, from unleashing further havoc along the road. Vehicular movement along the road had started skeletally especially heavy duty trucks while commercial vehicles are still afraid to ply the road.

Speaking after being conducted round the Water Scheme by military men guarding the facility, Governor Elechi described the invasion as a war on the entire state in the guise of communal war. He however assured that the militants and hoodlums will never win the war.

"This is an attack by unspecified persons. They are now fighting all Ebonyi state, that is what it is; to have attempted to destroy the water that we all drink, to have killed and maimed innocent passengers on a federal high way, to have killed people whose identities are unknown, who were simply going about their business; we can't say this is land dispute any more. It is criminality in its highest form.... As far as we are concerned, they shall never and can never win this war, they are wasting their time and they shall have a date with the history of retributive justice," Elechi said.

The Governor commended the military men guiding the water scheme and the police personnel along the road for their gallantry, saying that their labour shall never go in vein.

The newly posted Commissioner of police, Mr. Emmanuel Diipo Ayeni, who was in the Governor's entourage later told newsmen that two policemen were killed by the gunmen believed to be hired militants aside from other civilian casualties, mainly innocent road users.

Ayeni stated that the police were ready to match force with force even as he intends to adopt problem solving approach in resolving the crisis that has lasted for more than two years now. He said that he had already invited stakeholders in the state for a meeting towards using dialogue in solving the problem.

With the assumption of political colouration, analysts believe that the resolution of the Ezillo/Ezza Ezillo crisis will take long time. They therefore call for dialogue. The fear is that the shooting may go on intermittently if the matter is not amicably resolved. This may make the Enugu-Abakaliki a no go area for a long time thereby subjecting road users to tortuous experience. The 2011 election may worsen the crisis. The long term effect may be increase in crime and criminality as arms will be circulating freely in the wrong hands.