March 21, (THEWILL) – Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has granted amnesty to 51 former members of a vigilante group arrested at the height of the crisis between Ekoli Edda community in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and their neighboring Egbor/Urugbam village in Cross River State.
The amnesty, which was granted at the 134 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Ezillo, where the ex-vigilante members had undergone rehabilitation, was accompanied by an empowerment package from the state government.
Nwifuru announced a financial support package of N2 million each for the 51 former vigilantes, amounting to N102 million, as part of efforts to reintegrate them into society.
Speaking at the event, the governor explained that the Ebonyi State government had engaged with the Nigerian Army and other key stakeholders before reaching a decision aimed at restoring peace in the area.
He noted that the amnesty was necessitated by the willingness of the Ekoli Edda vigilante members to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
Nwifuru stated, “The voluntary surrender of 8 mortar bombs, 29 AK-47 rifles, and 21 pump-action guns is a powerful act of faith in the possibility of a better future.
“We are here to grant amnesty to 51 of our brothers, sons, fathers, and uncles who were caught in the web of a conflict that has brought pain, loss, and division among our people.
“Today is a moment of redemption, renewal, and hope. We gather not just as a government, but as a family united by a shared vision of peace, progress, and prosperity.”
The governor traced the root of the crisis to the Eastern Region Estate Investment (EREI) Farm Settlement, a project initiated during the administration of Dr. Michael Okpara to promote unity and economic development.
He explained that years of policy inconsistencies, mismanagement, and fragmentation of the settlement across Abia, Ebonyi, and Cross River States fueled long-standing tensions.
“The conflict escalated when the Egbor people of Biase Local Government Area in Cross River allegedly leased the NIFOR plantation—largely owned by the Ekoli Edda community—without proper consultation,” he said.
Nwifuru emphasised that the disarmament programme, spearheaded by the Nigerian Army in partnership with the Ebonyi State government, marked a historic turning point in the peace process.
The event was attended by senior military officers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, as well as operatives from the Military Cantonment, Nkwegu, near Abakaliki.
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