The Amuda Idzem General Assembly on Wednesday said that the Amuda (Idzem) people like other Korring-speaking ethnic groups in Ebonyi state were the first aboriginal settlers of the present-day Abakaliki including the Ezza North Local Government Area.
The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Michael Inaah and Secretary, Hon. Samuel Ude were reacting to the hesitance of the Ezza-Effium people to comply with the provisions of the peace pact with its warring Effium people of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The crisis which started in January 2021, has claimed hundreds of lives and led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
The group in the statement, noted that the Ezza North Local Government Area in particular was the first place the Amuda (Idzem) people settled before migrating to other places such as Effium in Ohaukwu and Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Areas respectively,"
The statement remarked that as back as the 14th century, Amuda (Idzem) people had organised societies with their first known leader Izekwe Ibo and his wife Ogba Izekwe.
" Izekwe Ibo is the equivalent of Ezekuna of Ezza, as the first official Traditional Ruler of Amuda (Idzem) community in Ezza North is HRH Onwe Elechi recognised by the defunct East Central State Military Administrator John Atom Kpera.
"This was under the Unified Local Government Reforms of 1976 as the Amuda (Idzem) people in Ezza North had other community leaders such as Edzem Ekeke and his contemporaries such as Olung Okolo, Uraku and Ozomokwe.
"The fact that it was the Korring-speaking people of Ebonyi state, Amuda inclusive that first settled in the present day Abakaliki can be attested by consulting A.E Cook (1993) journal titled “Intelligence Report on Ntezi and Okpoto clans, Abakaliki Division of Ogoja Providence National Archives File No. EP 12133 (pg 25 26{9 10}).
"The report states that before the advent of the Ezzas the sons of Orri (Orring) each head of a clan comprising at that time three (3) or more families, lived and farmed without interruption.
"They were scattered over a territory some 20 miles wide and 25 miles long and at that period there was none to dispute with the ownership of land which, so far as they were aware was limitless,"
The group in the statement advised its Ezza neighbours to focus on sorting out their issue with their landlords (Effium Natives) and leave Amuda (Idzem) people alone.
"Amuda (Idzem) people are peace-loving and wish not to be dragged into the Effium/Ezza-Effium crisis.
"We urge Governor Nwifuru to back the Implementation Committee as doing otherwise will be counter-productive.
"We commend him and the peace committee set up by the government which was headed by Emeritus Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Michael Okoro for their tenacity and excellent job which would ensure lasting peace in the affected area,"
It will be recalled that the Ezza-Effium stakeholders rejected some provisions of the government white paper on the crisis which include issues of being granted an autonomous community and having a traditional ruler.
