Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has taken a firm yet reconciliatory stance in the prolonged communal crisis rocking Ekoli Edda in Edda Local Government Area, by upholding the fine imposed on a former council chairman, Hon. Eni Uduma Chima, while ordering a downward review of the penalty amount.
Speaking during a crucial peace meeting with stakeholders at the Government House, Abakaliki, Governor Nwifuru emphasized that acts of looting and lawlessness must attract appropriate sanctions.
However, he expressed disapproval of the ₦106 million fine levied on Chima, former Ebonyi State House of Assembly lawmaker for allegedly instigating the looting of shops, describing the amount as excessive.
“Yes, shops were looted and that cannot go unpunished. But the fine must be just and reasonable. It should not be determined in a vacuum,” the governor stated.
While upholding the principle behind the sanction, Governor Nwifuru called for a proper reassessment of the fine to reflect fairness and due process.
Beyond the fine, the governor also nullified the recent banishment of Hon. Eni Uduma Chima and his brother from Ekoli Edda, declaring the action unconstitutional. He emphasized that no citizen can be exiled from their ancestral home without a court judgment.
“I hereby nullify the banishment of Eni Uduma Chima and his brother. Such actions are illegal and offend the rights of every Nigerian as enshrined in the Constitution,” he declared.
In a broader move to stem rising insecurity in the area, Nwifuru issued a decisive directive to all armed groups, including the Cachiam Boys, Trigger Boys, and Amnesty Boys, to immediately surrender all firearms in their possession.
“No civilian has the right to bear arms. Only the military, police, and civil defence are permitted. Any group or individual found violating this order will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.
Governor Nwifuru also approved five of the seven demands submitted by Chima during the peace resolution process. Among those granted were the return of Chima’s confiscated MacTalk device and the reversal of his expulsion. However, the governor rejected the call to dissolve the existing town union executive, stating that traditional institutions and local leadership structures must be allowed to operate independently and without interference.
In line with the president of the community's Development Union, Nwifuru also disbanded the so-called "Happy Trigger Boys," labeling them an illegal outfit operating outside the bounds of the law.
Furthering his commitment to justice, the governor ordered the return of 18 motorcycles and seven mobile phones allegedly seized by members of the Amnesty Boys. He warned that if the items were not returned, the suspects would be made to swear an oath publicly at the village square to prove their innocence.
Meanwhile, a gesture of community healing emerged as affected villages jointly contributed ₦1 million each to begin reconstruction of the looted shops.
Governor Nwifuru rounded off the meeting with a passionate appeal to all sides to prioritize peace and communal harmony:
“No one is above the community. If you are not proud of your community, then you are not its pride. Let us all submit to our institutions and restore peace in Ekoli Edda.”
