A human rights group Ebonyi First Vanguard, is raising concerns over the escalation of hostilities in the communal crisis in Effium Community of the state, in spite of the peace initiative by the federal government which has been maintaining a joint security team in the community since April 2021.
Director-general of the rights group while addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, Eze expressed worry over the negative profiling of a section of Effium community by some security operatives and the dramatisation of the crisis as seen in a recent video of police men circulating on the internet.
Eze appealed to the National Security Adviser and the Inspector-General of police to investigate and strengthen the neutrality of security personnel involved in the federal government peace initiative in the crisis-torn Effium Community.
Reacting in a statement, the Ebonyi State Police Command described the viral video of policemen in Effium lamenting lack of ammunition in the fight against Ezza fighters as a lie and the handiwork of destractors.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the police repelled the attacks from the Ezza fighters.
Mr Onovwakpoyeya however explained that in the ensuing gun battle, the Colonial building used as Police Station was razed down but there was no casualty on the part of the police or loss of arms or ammunition.
He said reinforcement has since been sent to the police men, including arms, ammunition and gun truck.
The statement says calm has returned to the area and warns the aggressors to lay down their arms or face the full wrath of the law.
Effium Community of Ebonyi State has been embroiled in a communal crisis since 2021 which has claimed thousands of lives and valuable properties.
Reporting by Victorson Agbenson; Editing by Muzha Kucha and Julian Osamoto