February 18, (THEWILL) – Tension has resurfaced in Effium autonomous community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following the gruesome killing and beheading of a resident, Godwin Odah, by suspected Ezza warriors.
Odah was murdered at the back of his compound in Akparata village, with his body parts severed in what has been described as a barbaric attack.
The incident comes barely a week after Governor Francis Nwifuru granted amnesty to 158 detainees arrested in connection with the four-year-old communal conflict that erupted in Effium in 2021.
Confirming the killing, the President-General of Effium Town Union, Dr. Agena James, said he had notified Nwifuru of the development, expressing concerns over the fragile peace process.
James stated, “Your Excellency, I wish to inform you that at about 11:30 am today, Ezza warriors killed Godwin Odah at the back of his compound in Akparata village, Effium.
“This is disheartening despite the government’s efforts to restore peace in Effium. We strongly demand that the perpetrators of this heinous act be arrested and brought to justice. The murdered victim had his head, one hand, and a leg severed in the most inhumane manner.”
The release of the detainees was part of the Ebonyi State government’s broader peace initiative to end hostilities in the troubled community.
However, the killing of Odah has raised fresh concerns about a potential resurgence of violence.
Nwifuru had earlier stated that both Effium and Ezza-Effium stakeholders had signed an undertaking to prevent a relapse into conflict following the release of detainees.
The latest incident, however, threatens the fragile truce and puts the government’s peace efforts to the test.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
