- TETMI President, Dr. Umune
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Leadership of The Evangelisers’ Team Ministry International (TETMI) has expressed grave concern at the escalating communal clashes in various parts of Ebonyi State, and called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to urgently intervene.
The group urged the governor to issue a strong statement condemning the violence and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties involved. It also requested the governor to initiate “a high-level peace-building process that brings together leaders, elders and representatives of the affected communities for dialogue and mediation,” among others.
In a petition to the governor by the TETMI President, Dr. David Umune, the cleric noted that the clashes “have resulted in loss of lives, displacement of families, and a general atmosphere of insecurity.”
Citing recent reports, Umune noted that “these clashes, often rooted in longstanding ethnic and land disputes, have intensified, leading to fatalities and widespread fear among the populace.”
According to him, the 2011 clashes between the Ezza and Ezilo people, which resulted in no fewer than 50 deaths, serve as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of unresolved communal tensions in the state.
The cleric further disclosed that, as a stakeholder in the Ebonyi Project by virtue of their missionary and development activities in the state, TETMI has invested enormous resources, including millions of naira and materials, in pursuing crisis settlement, peace and progress among different warring communities in the state.
Against this background, TETMI urged the governor to establish a state-level peace and reconciliation committee comprising representatives from all affected communities, religious leaders, youth organisations and civil society groups. According to Umune, “this committee would serve as a platform for dialogue, conflict resolution and the promotion of mutual understanding.”
To improve security, TETMI called for an enhanced security presence in the volatile areas to prevent further violence and ensure safety of lives. It further urged the implementation of decisions, resolutions already taken by relevant authorities and bodies.
The group also called on the state government to carry out state-wide campaigns to educate the populace on the dangers of ethnic intolerance and the importance of peaceful coexistence.
More so, it urged the Nwifuru administration to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons and others affected by the clashes, while facilitating their safe return to their communities.
