The people of Effium and Ezza-Effium both in Effium community, Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State, have agreed to cease fire and end the war between them.
The crisis started on January 21, 2021 and had claimed hundreds of lives, with properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
The two warring parties had been living together for many decades before the war in which both recorded high casualties.
However, at the weekend, the peace and reconciliation committee set up by Governor Francis Nwifuru to find a lasting solution to the war brokered a truce between the two parties.
The two parties signed the ceasefire agreement before the Bishop Nnachi Okoro-led peace and reconciliation committee in Abakaliki, the capital.
The meeting was also attended by security chiefs.
The Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Donatus Ilang, read the ceasefire agreement before the warring parties, after which their stakeholders signed the agreement.
The agreement reads: “A ceasefire agreement is made this day of 2023 between Effium and Ezza Effium.
“Whereas there was a crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium, Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State, which started on 21st January 2021 and has lingered to date.
“Not comfortable with the war, the state government constituted a peace and reconciliation committee to resolve the crisis.
“The reconciliation committee has commenced mediation, arbitration with the parties who have mutually agreed to halt all forms of attack against one another.
“The parties have agreed as follows: that the state government through the committee should use all available at its disposal, oral and handwritten, to resolve the crisis.
“That both parties have agreed to prevail on their warriors to lay down their arms by the ceasefire, to enable the committee fully intervene in the crisis and amicably resolve same.
“Both parties have also agreed to stop all forms of hostilities and to cooperate with the state government and the committee in their efforts to bring lasting peace to the trouble-ridden community.
“Consequently, any party or group of persons or individuals that violate this ceasefire agreement will be answerable to the laws of Ebonyi State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
A member of the committee, Rev. Fr. Charles Otu, hailed security chiefs for their presence and support in ensuring a lasting solution to the intractable war between the two communities.
He warned against breach of the ceasefire agreement, saying it was binding on the parties.
Chairman of the peace and reconciliation committee, Most Rev. Nnachi Okoro, retired Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, urged the parties to embrace peace and continue to live as brothers.
