Ezza- Ezekunna community petitions Gov Alia over killing of 5 persons in Benue 

From Gabriel Agbo, Makurdi 

Ezza- Ezekunna community  in Ado and  Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State  has urged the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia,  to prevail on his Ebonyi State counterpart , Francis  Nwifuru to halt the incessant attacks and killings of Ezza people of Benue by Effium warlords from Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State.

The association further appealed to the governor to work closely with the Ebonyi State Governor to ensure a united front against insecurity in the two states and also bring those behind the heinous act to book and put an end to the unwarranted killings and incessant attacks on their people in Benue, saying that they have no other place to go other than Benue State.

The appeal is contained in a petition and open letter addressed to Governor Hyacinth Alia by the leadership of Ezza-Ezekunna Benue Development Association(EEBDA in Ado and Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Sunday.

Their petition is coming on the heels of killing of five persons at Azuoke settlement in Ezza-Ezekunna community in Ado local government area of the State.

The petition which was signed  by Lady Perpetual Nkechi Okafor, President General Ezza-Ezekuna Benue Development Association (EEBDA) who was a former Executive Secretary of Ado Local Government Council and Ogbuefi Linus Chinedu Nweke, Board of Trustee (BOT) Chairman, Ezza-Ezekuna Benue Development Association (EEBDA), lamented that the Effium warlords have consistently wreaked havoc in their communities, terrorizing innocent residents and disrupting daily life.

They noted that in recent days, a surge in violent attacks on villagers has left many communities in Ezza-Ezekunna in fear, disrupted normal activities, and threatened the very fabric of the society.

The Association explained that on 19th February, 2026, Effium warlords  from Akparata community in Ohaukwu  LGA of Ebonyi State, in their  large numbers, invaded Azuoke settlement in Ezza-Ezekunna community  and launched unprovoked attack on the people of Benue State thereby killing over five persons and left so many other with vary degrees of injuries, while several others still missing with more dead bodies  yet to be recovered.

“Recall that the Ezza/Effium crisis, which started in Effium community in Ebonyi state, spilled into Ado LGA in Benue State because of the presence of Ezzas/Effiumites in Ado  axis of our dear Benue.

“Although Ezza- Ezekunna community has enjoyed a relatively higher level of peace in the  last  few months after our previous letter  to you, which prompted the governor to order for immediate establishment of security points in three designated areas in our community, a directive that was not carried out till date”.

The Ezza-Ezekunna community however acknowledged the sustained efforts on the part of  Benue State Government to restore lasting peace between Effium people in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and the Ezza-Ezekuna people in Ado LGA of Benue State, 

They added that despite the effort, killings of their  people had continued unabated and therefore called on the governor to halt the spate of killings in the community and prevent the situation from sliding into total chaos in the State.

“Our people remain perpetually helpless in the face of their killers who usually come to launch unprovoked attacks on them. This Thursday 19th February , 2026 killing has the potential of heightening the tension between the two communities but with God, all will be fine.

“We are advocating that  governor Alia should strengthen strong synergy and coordination between state security agencies and traditional rulers in Ezza-Ezekunna community who are closest to the grassroots and can provide timely intelligence and deploy mobile patrols to our border areas to ensure a visible presence that deters criminal activity so as to push out the Effium warlords out of Benue.

“The governor should give  maximum support to our community‑based vigilante groups with proper training and equipment, while he maintain oversight to prevent abuse.

“His Excellency should extend  basic infrastructure including roads, communication networks, and lighting to our communities to reduce isolation and  establish a rapid‑response mechanism for reporting and addressing incidents directly to your office through our local areas, with clear timelines for action.

“We request you to issue an executive order declaring our communities bordering Ebonyi State as militarized zones to help curb the menace in affected areas

“It is our earnest expectations and trust that, under your robust administration , Ezza-Ezekunna community in Ado local government area of Benue State will once again enjoy the security and prosperity it deserves”, the association stated.