By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The stakeholders and people of the Izhi clan in Ebonyi State on Friday, 21st March 2025, held a funeral mass service for the nine Izhi people killed by the suspected Effium warriors in their respective native compounds in recent times.
Other deceased victims who were the indigenes of Nkaleke Mbeke Ishieke included Chikwado Unachi, Obinna Joseph and Iziogo Igboke, but Esther Nwogha Nwodo and Ifeoma Ibina, also killed by the Effuimites were natives of Okpuduma Mbeke Ishieke community.
Speaking during the mass service held at Saint Michael's Parish, Catholic Church in Isophumini Mbeke Ishieke, the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and described it as a satanic agenda to destroy the state.
The governor, represented by his Principal Secretary, Chief Matthias Adum, however, consoled the Izhi people, especially the bereaved families, with an undisclosed cash donation to the deceased victims' relatives for their burial ceremony.
Nwifuru also donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Izhi people whose houses and other properties were destroyed by the then-raging Effium warriors and advised them to continue toeing lines of peace despite their hard experiences as a result of the attack.
He assured that his administration would continue to invest richly in taking care of the welfare of affected families by the attack and emphasized the need of Ebonyi residents to prioritize peaceful co-existence in every part of the state.
Nwifuru charged the people to be on the alert with the issues related to the security of lives and properties in their respective homes and communities, believing that his administration agenda anchored on the People's Charter of Needs, would bring a laudable windfall to the state at the end of his tenure.
His words: "This death was a very tragic one; it was caused by war. It is indeed a temptation, but I wish to send my unreserved condolences to the bereaved families who are here.
"I'm urging you to take heart because no matter how death occurs, it's always considered a natural phenomenon; it can come in any form, and the certainty is that everybody must die one day. Those killed were many but the most painful one was the killing of the pregnant woman and her unborn baby.
"My condolences are for the entire families, Mbeke community, Ebonyi local government area and the entire Izhi clan. Our duty is to pray and support the affected families, especially their children, to take care of their welfare, because we are aware that 9 people were killed and some people's houses were burnt down. We got this shocking message. However, we took the bold steps to uphold peace, and that's why we came today to give the death victims a befitting burial because war is a bad thing and no sound mind would pray to experience it."
Lending his voice, the Chairman of Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi State, Prince Chinedu Uburu, described the incident as a heavy attack on humanity, saying the victims were mercilessly killed for no just cause by their attackers.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for taking a bold step to restore peace in the Effuim community, advising both Effium and Ezza Effuim people to embrace peace, "knowing full well they are brothers and sisters, and there is no gain in the destruction of people's lives and properties, which escalated to the killing of their innocent neighbours.
"I urge Effium and Ezza Effuim people to embrace peace because there's nothing like peace. It was out of their recklessness during the war that brought about the killing of Izhi people, precisely those from Ohagelode, Okpuduma and Nkaleke in Mbeke Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ebonyi local government area.
"I'm advising the two communities to embrace peace because we used to hear this as a history, but today, we are experiencing this unfortunate incident, but no one can question God because He knows why it happened. I, therefore, extend my condolences to the bereaved families to continue to solace in God," Uburu said.
The Coordinator of Effuim Development Centre, Nwogbaga Ogbonna also commended Governor Nwifuru for donating money for the burial of the death victims of the war and urged both Effium and Ezza Effuim people to embrace peace, stressing that "there is no gain in crisis." He equally condoled the affected families by the war and urged them to continue to toeing lines of peace while taking solace in the Lord.
The President General of Oha Izhi clan, HRH Eze Sunday Nkwegu Oketa, the Traditional Ruler of Mbeke Ishieke Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Peter Ukpamazi, the National President of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Comrade Chibueze Elom, member one of Ebonyi State Secondary Education Board, Chief Lazarus Eze, Zonal Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Comrade John Nwankata, among others expressed displeasure over the killings of the innocent people and warned that such unwarranted attack should not reoccur in their land while praying for God to accept the souls of the deceased victims in His paradise.
Reacting, the leaders and stakeholders of the Effuim clan, Prince James Agina and Barrister Clement Odah, who was the immediate Chairman of Ohaukwu local government area, said they came to give the last honour to the deceased victims of the war from Izhi land and described the development which led to the incident as an unfortunate one.
They noted that Izhi and Effium people have been historical brothers for time immemorial, saying the two clans had been living together without any record of hostility right from the time of their forefathers. They commended the Izhi stakeholders, especially Governor Francis Nwifuru, for having championed peace and urged the affected families by the war to take solace in God.
Earlier in his sermon, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Dr Joseph Nwibo, said all human races originated from Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created by God according to the biblical record, urging all and sundry to embrace peace, by living exemplary life in the society.
Also, the Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Jasper Ogbonna, who officiated the mass service consoled the bereaved families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the war victims.
Recall that Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, through the Principal Secretary to Governor, Chief Matthias Adum, promised to build houses for the three families, among the war victims.
Mr Patrick Nwodom Ekpiri and other representatives of the war victims appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru and other stakeholders of Izhi land for their prompt intervention and prayed that God would reward them handsomely.
Major highlights of the event were prayers and the official handover of the cash donated to the representatives of the war victims by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
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