Umahi gives Ebonyi community 7 days ultimatum to release abducted children 

By SAMSON NWAFOR, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, has given Enyibichiri community in Ikwo Local Government Area of the State 7 days ultimatum, beginning from June 6, 2021, to release the children abducted in Enyigba in Abakaliki LGA of the State.

Umahi described the abduction of the children by some miscreants from Enyibichiri Ikwo as the height of provocation as there was no more dispute between the two communities.

The governor said the state government would not release any of the leaders of Enyibichiri community that were arrested and detained until the children were released by their abductors, even as he promised to give the abductors total amnesty if they comply with the 7 days ultimatum.

Governor Umahi, in a Press Statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, on Monday said he was saddened by the sudden turn of events between two brothers of Enyibuchiri Ikwo and Enyigba Abakaliki.

He wondered why the abduction of innocent children of Enyigba Izzi, should be hatched and executed by just a few miscreants from Enyibichiri.

The governor further warned the abductors of the consequences of not providing the children within the 7 days ultimatum, as government, according to the system, shall have no option other than to move into Enyibichiri to make a massive arrest to get back the children.

Part of the statement reads:

“The governor is aware that the only land dispute between them has been finally settled by the government with the assistance of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and the Bishops in Ebonyi State, which took the state over three years to find lasting peace in the area”

“It is to be noted that Ebonyi State government through CAN went as far as hiring heavy-duty equipment working on the disputed land for three months and a final demarcation was successfully done and same accepted by both parties”.

“Government, therefore, wonders why the abduction of innocent children of Enyigba Izzi, should be hatched and executed by just a few miscreants of Enyibichiri Ikwo”.

“The governor assures the entire Izzi clan that the entire Enyibichiri and Ikwo people at large totally condemn this act as evil”

“The governor vows to rescue and reunite these children to their families at all costs and therefore pleads with our Izzi brothers and sisters to please remain calm and prevent their children from taking laws into their hands while promising them that within 7 days, this matter about the abduction of their children will be amicably resolved”.

“The governor is very hopeful that with his government, religious leaders and good stakeholders of Ebonyi State, these children will be returned to the people of Izzi without any harm. The Governor, therefore, pleads with abductors to kindly release the children to the government within the next 7days from this 6th of June,2021 with a promise of total amnesty to them”.

“Government is not willing to release any of the leaders of Enyibichiri, that are in detention to underscore the value of the lives of those abducted. The governor believes that every life is sacred, and the life of those abducted matters so much to the government”.

“Government, therefore, warns the abductors of the consequences of not providing these children in the next seven (7) days, as government shall have no option other than to move into Enyibichiri to make a massive arrest to get back the children”.

“The governor, therefore, admonishes the parents of the abductors, both the immediate and extended families, that they are well known and pleads with them to talk to their children to release those innocent children. He further warns that should they fail, refuse and or neglect to do that, the government will fish them out, no matter where they run to.” (Daily Independent)