By Ugbor Samuel, Abakaliki

The Federal Government, on Friday, distributed emergency relief materials to over 5000 Internally-Displaced Persons in crises affected communities of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

The relief materials were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The ceremony was performed by AVM Mohammadu Mohammed (Rtd), Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, at Amagu community in Ikwo LGA.

The NEMA DG, Mohammed represented by Mr Fred Anoziem, South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, said that the materials which comprised foods and non foods essential materials were aimed at providing succour to the victims of various intra and inter community was in Ikwo.

He said that the benefitting communities include; Ochuenyum, Ofenekpe, Agubia communities and parts of Alike community.

The DG said that the agency was aware of the various communal clashes risen through boundary disputes, internal political manauverings, traditional titles tuzzle among others.

He said, “The agency is aware of the border/land boundary dispute that erupted between Ikwo and Cross River communities in in April 2013; also, in June 2016 another report of crisis from the area reached us while the third was reported in January this year.

“Communities involved have been completely displaced and their farmlands declared buffer zones.

“It is therefore a sad note to lose lives, property and those affected pass through the trauma of displacement over crises which has recently assumed greater dimension.”

The DG argued that most of the communal crises were avoidable but regretted that youths of these days no longer have regard or fear for human lives or respect for tradition and constituted authorities.

“Ebonyi has been known hitherto known for peace, unity and love for communal development is gradually turning into a theatre of hostilities.

“The number of crises recorded in the state and by extension Ikwo LGA in the past few years evidence is that; cordial age – long relationship has turned sour, government has lost man-hour, man-power and resources meant for development,” he added.

Pix: Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi