Women of Effium and Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State, have urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to assist in facilitating the release of over 177 detainees from prison.
Among the 177 detainees, as gathered by NATIONAL PANEL, 92 of them are Ezza while 85 are Effium, and they have been awaiting trial for four years.
Recall that the people of Effium and Ezza-Effium have been at war since 2021 with many lives lost and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed.
The last administration in the state, led by former Governor David Umahi, now Minister of Works, made efforts to resolve the crisis, but killings, maiming and destruction persisted in the area.
Many people from the two communities were arrested, and remanded in prisons.
About ten of the detainees have reportedly died while in detention, many have gone blind, and some are suffering from different diseases due to lack of medical care.
The women, while protesting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, yesterday, said life has become so difficult for them since their husbands and children, who are among the detainees, were remanded.
They alleged that they have lost many children and husbands in detention and called on Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to intervene and ensure that they are released.
Mrs Uguru Blessing, from Effium, said she has been suffering for four years. Her husband was sent to prison. My husband has been in prison for over four years now and I don't know what to do.
"I appreciate our governor for the kind of peace he has brought in Effium. I am so happy; I appreciate him; he is a good man. One thing I am begging him is he should please help us. We are suffering, we are dying. My husband left four children for me and since then, I don't know what I am doing. The load of two people have turned to one person.
"My children have dropped out of school, they are at home because of my inability to pay their school fees. Our governor should please help us so that our husbands can be released," she said
Also speaking, Mrs Kindness Ekpeta from Ezza, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for restoring peace in Effium and appealed to him to intervene in the imprisonment of their husbands and children so that they can be released.
She alleged that over 10 of their husbands and children in the prison have died while those that are alive are now very sick.
"I went there last Sunday to visit them and I shed tears because many of them are sick, many are blind because of lack of care. My promise to our governor is that we will continue to be supporting for bringing peace in Effium," she stated.
Other women, including Mrs Martha Nworie and Mrs Virginia Ufuo from Ezza, lamented that the detention of their husbands and children has brought untold hardship to them as they can no longer care for their children.
They also appealed to Governor Nwifuru to assist in releasing them even as they commended him for restoring peace to the wartorn area.
