Communities in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have expressed joy and happiness over the return of peace and tranquillity in the once troubled area orchestrated by some stakeholders and youths who hail from the area.
This was disclosed in an interview by Edda people after a recent general emergency meeting summoned by the Caretaker Committee of Ekoli Band of Hope held at Amaeke town hall.
According to respondents, some youths and stakeholders from the community had barred them from the community, but expressed joy that the Caretaker Committee set up by the government has restored peace and normalcy to Edda.
Chief Samuel Kalu Ama Mba, Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ekoli Band of Hope, who said he was a victim in the community, recalled that when he assumed office, he used the youth arm of the community to set up a vigilante, which led the ‘bad boy’ to quit Edda.
He said, “I have to give credit to the governor of the state, Hon, the Great Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for in his wisdom. He approved the Caretaker Committee through the local government chairman. What did we do differently?
“The community has been through a lot; we have suffered, even as a member of this community, I have suffered a lot, I can share my own gory stories or experience. So, it got to a point that the community said enough is enough.
“When the caretaker committee was formed, the first thing we did was to set up a youth arm and a vigilante arm. Just on the formation of these two bodies, the bad boys, on their own, started leaving the community. They felt that their time is up, so they left the community, and that’s why we are enjoying peace today.
“It is my wish. It is my wish, and it is my prayers that the peace be sustained. Everybody is on board now. Nobody wants to give any space for any laxity or for complacency because what we suffered in the past was too much. It got to a point that some people felt that the community did not belong to them.
“So, they left the community in hands of few, and they ran it the way they wanted, and they ran it, and they ran the community on ground. But now, people are now interested, people are asking questions, and people are speaking up freely without any fear of molestation and intimidation. So, I believe that the peace will actually be sustained, “he stated.
Speaking in an interview with John Emegha, he revealed he was barred from Edda for three years.
“We now have relative peace. We no longer have a crisis in the community. I am sorry to reveal this. For three good years, I was barred from entering this community.
“I didn’t come home for three good years. But now, I walk freely in the community, and I move freely even at midnight. I commend the new leadership of our community for this peace we are enjoying today, Emegha said.
Michael Ibiam Eze, who emerged as the electoral committee chairman for Ekoli Band forthcoming election, disclosed that he accepted the responsibility because of his desire for a new Edda.
His words: “I am no longer afraid in the community. I no longer have any fear of attack, unlike before. We have to support the caretaker committee of this our community that made this peace possible. We have to support them to do more.
“I shed tears on issues concerning Ekoli. Because of this, I participate in any issue concerning the community because I want peace and tranquillity in our land, I want peace. This is why I accepted to be the chairman of the electoral committee that will conduct election for the new leadership of the community .
“I have accepted this assignment for Ekoli to be good. If Ekoli is good, it is good for everybody . I remember when we used to sleep outside in the community freely without being killed or molested, we were sleeping freely in our houses. We were closing our houses with wooden doors without being broken by thugs but now, if you lock your house with an iron door, it will be broken.
“So, I am happy that things are changing in our community an and I am promising Ekoli that whatever that will bring permanent peace in our community, I will give myself to it. Those who were afraid to attend this well attended emergency meeting an should be told that the era of harassment, intimidation, and molestation in our community was over, nothing like that is happening again in this community. This election we are going to conduct will be free and fair, “he assured.
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