*Ebonyi community raise the alarm over attempt to dispossess them their landAdedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Scores of persons have been reportedly killed and houses, farmlands, and other valuables destroyed following a violent clash between irate youths of Tarok and Motola in Ponglong area of Lalin district of Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State.
THISDAY gathered that several other persons were severely injured in the clash, which started Saturday night and lasted till Sunday morning.
In a related development, leaders of Effium Indigenes of Ezza-Ezekuna extraction of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have raised the alarm over attempts by powerful land speculators to dispossess them of their ancestral land.
However, confirming the Plateau incident, Mikang Local Government Transition Chairman, Mr. Daniel Kunmi, said it started as a clash between two persons before it was hijacked and escalated by the irate youths and criminals.
“Within a short time, the situation degenerated, leading to the burning down of houses and barns. Several criminal elements took advantage of the unfortunate incident and rustled cattle as well as other valuables.
“We had to immediately report to security operatives who moved swiftly to the affected community to restore law and order.
“I just returned from the affected community and the situation is under control, but for now, we can not ascertain the number of persons killed in the clash,” Kunmi said.
On their part, Effium leaders, including Justice Anselm Nwigwe, Prophet Freeman Nwonu, Elechi Benedict, Hon. Vitalis Igboke, Utobo Joseph among others, said the protest letter to Governor Francis Nwifuru became necessary to put the records straight.
The letter, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Abuja, called on the governor and warned that the purported endorsement of the peace pact was procured under duress and lacking in voluntary consent or real volition.
The leaders pointed out that the influential members within the implementation committee set up by the state government working in cahoots with land grabbers tempted some of their representatives to sign a dubious document purported as a peace pact.
“We have already sent a letter of protest to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, notified the governor that the purported endorsement of the peace pact was procured under duress and lacking in voluntary consent or real volition.
“We most respectfully bring to your esteem notice that we suspect strongly that your Excellency is not aware of the breach of due process and bias, which dogged the Peace panel and its purported report.”
