By Chukwuemka Opara
#TrackNigeria: Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi says he will not hesitate to sign the death warrant of individuals convicted of murder in the violent clashes which engulfed Agbaja community of Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Umahi made the assertion while commiserating with the families of victims of the violent clashes which recently engulfed the community, resulting in the death of several persons and burning of over 12 houses.
The governor, who declared that the clashes were not politically motivated, said that it was “family squabble orchestrated by violent-minded people in the community`’.
“The police are looking for the culprits and immediately after the elections, I will publish their identities in newspapers in the country.
“We must arrest and use them to set example, and if the court convicts them of murder, I will personally sign their death warrants.
“No amount of provocation will make someone to kill another person whether he belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) among others.
“No one has the right to life and the good thing is that the culprits will be apprehended and prosecuted according to the law of the state.
“There is no law that permits anyone to unlawfully possess a gun and shoot another to death as it is even forbidden traditionally,” he said.
He charged the commissioner of police in the state to unravel the mystery behind the clashes so that it did not escalate before the elections are conducted.
“I will never ask anybody in the name of party to destroy houses or kill anybody as it is unlawful and satanic.
“I want the youths to protect the defenceless women and youths because this is a family squabble instigated by bitterness and anger.
“I commiserate with the affected families, urging them to take solace in God and urge the people to see themselves as brothers and sisters,” he said.
He urged security agencies to deal ruthlessly with individuals who bear arms illegally to kill and destroy, urging the agencies to “shoot on sight”.
“The people should not be deceived by the elite of the community who do not attract any sort of development to them but gain from such crisis,” he said.
The governor also inspected the houses burnt during the clashes while making various cash donations to the victims and their families.
Mr Francis Nwifuru, Speaker of the state House of Assembly who hails from the area, however, blamed the crisis on some PDP members who connived with the main opposition party to unleash mayhem on the people.
The Speaker who denied allegations by one of the victims that he (Speaker) sponsored the thugs who razed her building, noted that PDP members engaged in anti-party activities were involved in the crisis.
“One of them, a serving Technical Assistant to the Governor, told me that he presently belongs to the main opposition party but will vote for any PDP candidate of his choice,” he said.
One of the victims, Mr Nwankachi Mbam, the Councillor of Mgbo Agbaja Ward of the community, said that the hoodlums burnt his house and pushed his brother into his own burning building. (NAN)
