The government of Ebonyi State on Thursday granted amnesty to 51 repentant ex-militants from Ekoli Edda in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and ₦2 million each after their rehabilitation to enable them to integrate well into society.
The Guardian gathered that the repentant ex-militants were former members of the Ekoli vigilante group, who were involved in a series of crises that occurred between the Ekoli Edda community and their Egbor/Urugbam neighbours of Cross River State, in which many lives were lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Our correspondent further gathered that the six-month rehabilitation was done in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and some relevant stakeholders, during which they were trained in various skill acquisition programs such as poultry, piggery, building, and others.
Granting the amnesty and empowerment to the affected persons at the 134 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Ezillo Barracks, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru announced a donation of ₦2 million to each of them to start life afresh after undergoing skilled training for six months.
He noted that in the face of the crisis, the Ebonyi State Government took decisive steps to restore peace, adding that the granting of amnesty was necessitated by the willingness of the Ekoli Edda vigilante members to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
According to him, the voluntary surrender of eight mortar bombs, 29 AK-47 rifles, and 21 pump-action guns was a powerful act of faith in the possibility of a better future.
The governor traced the roots of the crisis to the Eastern Region Estate Investment (EREI) Farm Settlement, a project that was meant to be a symbol of unity and prosperity, established by the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara.
He said that over time, inconsistencies in agricultural policies, mismanagement, and the fragmentation of the settlement across Abia, Ebonyi, and Cross River States sowed seeds of discord.
Nwifuru stated that the conflict escalated when the Egbor people of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River allegedly leased the NIFOR plantation, which largely belongs to the Ekoli Edda community, without proper consultation.
He said that the disarmament programme initiated by the Nigerian Army in partnership with the Ebonyi State Government marked a historic turning point.
Nwifuru said, “We are here to grant amnesty to 51 of our brothers, our sons, fathers, and uncles who were caught in the web of a conflict that has caused pain, loss, and division among our people.
“Today is a moment of redemption, renewal, and hope. We gather not just as a government, but as a family united by a shared vision of peace, progress, and prosperity.”
The event was attended by military officers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, in addition to operatives from the Military Cantonment, Nkwegu, near Abakaliki.
