Commission begins investigation into Ebonyi, Cross River communal clash

The National Human Rights Commission on Friday said it has commenced investigations into the communal clash between Azuofia Edda in Ebonyi State and Ogurude community in Cross River State.
Some officials of the commission, led by Abdulraham Ayide, were in Ebonyi State to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the clash.
Ayide is the head of protection and investigation in the commission.
He said the visit would afford the commission the opportunity to do an on the spot assessment of the level of destruction and number of those who lost their lives in the clash.
He added that the team was in the state to commiserate with victims of the clash.
Ayide said: “We shall visit Cross River State to get their side of the story soon.
“We believe that at the end of the fact finding, our recommendations will lead to entrenchment of lasting peace between the two communities.”
He, however, urged Internally Displaced Persons in the area to eschew violence and to pursue peace and live in harmony with their neighbours.
Ayide decried the increasing spate of violence in the country which had resulted in the killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians and destruction of properties.
He assured the IDPs and other affected victims that the commission was working with security agents and communities to promote peace, security and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens of the country.
The Ebonyi State Government has meanwhile, called on the commission to ensure thorough investigation into the alleged unprovoked attack on the Azuofia-Edda community of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, said proper investigation of the crisis would assist in bringing the perpetrators to book.
Igwe also called for intervention from the National Emergency Management Agency to cushion the suffering of the IDPs.
He said the State Government had been providing food and shelter and other welfare packages for the displaced persons who could no longer have access to their farm lands and residential homes.
Igwe said: “This it is posing a huge financial burden on the State Government who has been providing food for the IDPs, we are therefore, calling for quick intervention from NEMA.
“This will cushion the suffering of the IDPs and reduce the heavy financial burden on the government in view of our lean resources.”
Maria Moses and Bernard Nwaoba, victims of the clash, appealed to the government to ensure that peace was restored in the area to enable them go back and harvest their farm produce.
According to them, the sporadic attacks on them by neighbouring community had made it impossible for the Azuofia-Edda community to harvest their crops.
They said: “Ogurude people frequently raid the community and have refused to allow peace reign in the area, we are appealing to government to do everything within its power to restore peace in the area.
“Our children can no longer go to school for fear of abduction and possible killing, and we are starving to death because we can no longer have access to our farmlands.”