A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY MEETING BETWEEN IKWO INDIGENOUS PROFESSIONALS IN DIASPORA AND IZHI NNODO, UNITED KINGDOM ON THE ONGOING CRISIS BETWEEN ENYIGBA-IZHI, ABAKLIKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA AND ENYIBICHIRI-ALIKE, IKWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE
We, the Ikwo Indigenous Professionals in Diaspora and Izhi Nnodo, United Kingdom (UK) held a virtual meeting on Sunday 6th June 2021 to discuss the ongoing communal crisis between Enyigba-Izhi, Abakaliki LGA and Enyibichiri-Alike Ikwo, Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State and the way forward towards achieving lasting peace between the two communities. Following an extensive deliberation over the crisis, we arrived at a consensus as to the way forward towards an amicable resolution of the conflict and therefore, have agreed to issue the following joint communique:
1. The Ikwo Indigenous Professionals in Diaspora and Izhi Nnodo, UK highly regret and condemn, in strongest terms, the ongoing crisis between the two communities from the ancestral brothers of Ikwo and Izhi, which has led to the unfortunate loss of lives and properties. We share the belief that no dispute, however serious and whatever the nature is worth shedding the blood of any human being and therefore, plead with both sides to sheath their swords, and give peace a chance.
2. We condemn in strongest terms the shameful, wicked, barbaric, and heinous reported abduction of harmless innocent children and women by some miscreants, which escalated the current crisis. We, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional release of the abductees.
3. We commend the measures already taken by the Ebonyi State Government under the leadership of the Governor, His Excellency Chief Engr David Nweze Umahi (FNATE, FNSE), which led to the earlier boundary demarcation of the disputed parcel of land. We appreciate the commitment of the government to ensuring the de-escalation of the crisis.
4. We note with utter dismay that few unscrupulous individuals are fuelling the crisis and appreciate the uncommon maturity and leadership so far exhibited by the leaders of Ikwo and Izhi clans towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. This action undoubtedly shows that our brotherly ties and unity remain firm and unbreakable, notwithstanding the unfortunate provocations and evil machinations by war-mongering miscreants. We, therefore, urge all Ikwo and Izhi Traditional Rulers and leaders of thoughts to do more to contain the warring brothers and encourage their subjects to take the path of dialogue, peace, unity, civilization, and development.
5. We appeal to both Izhi and Ikwo clans to maintain their long-standing brotherliness and protect one another in their various communities. To this end, we advise the Traditional Rulers and village heads of the warring communities to engage their subjects to emphasize the need for calm and peaceful coexistence among Ikwo and Izhi brothers.
6. We appeal to the State Government to genuinely engage all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, village heads, youth leaders, political leaders, and others from the warring communities to immediately identify all the bad eggs from their communities that instigated or fomented the crisis and ensure that justice is served to them to serve as a deterrent to others.
7. We are committed to ensuring continuous engagement and consultations with all necessary stakeholders from both Ikwo and Izhi to bring an amicable resolution to this conflict. In this regard, we appeal to the Governor to release all the Stakeholders that are currently being detained, as their invaluable inputs are indispensable at this critical moment.
In light of the foregoing and to ensure a lasting solution to the current crisis whilst also forestalling any future recurrence, we make the following recommendations:
i. That the government establish a police station at the boundary between the two warring communities in the long term.
ii. That the government constitute a judicial panel or commission of inquiry headed by a serving or retired judge to investigate and establish responsibility for the immediate and remote causes of this crisis. We strongly believe that this conflict is recurrent and has a long-standing history that transcends the current events and therefore, can only be resolved through a proper judicial process. The resolution of similar tribal conflicts in many parts of Nigeria in the past through judicial inquiries already lends credence to the fact that effective resolution of a communal crisis of this nature requires the full deployment of the judicial process.
We pray the Almighty God to keep and preserve the Izhi and Ikwo clans and the Ebonyi People in general.
Signed:
(i) Professor Chinedu Ekuma – USA
(ii) Dr. Silas Ewah – UK
(iii) Bar. Vitalis Nwanne – USA
(iv) Dr. Chidi Nshi – UK
(v) Dr. Emmanuel Nwofe – UK
(vi) Dr. Theophilus Nwoba – New Zealand
(For and on behalf of Ikwo Indigenous Professionals in Diaspora and Izhi Nnodo, UK).
DATED THIS 9TH DAY OF JUNE 2021.
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