Ebonyi Group Condemns Erasure of 172 Effium Villages

A group has strongly condemned the Ebonyi State government's alleged erasure of 172 ancient villages belonging to the indigenous Effium people. This condemnation follows the controversial Ebonyi State Law No. 004 of 2025, titled "Ebonyi State Effium Alioma Peace Pact," which purportedly creates new village identities, such as Alioma Ezekuna Alioma Autonomous Community, while suppressing established Effium cultural landmarks.

Human rights activist Emmanuel Acha stated that the law represents an unlawful attempt to manipulate territory and erase the cultural identity of the Effium people for the benefit of external political interests. The group asserts that there is no moral or legal authority for the government to erase these ancestral landmarks and vows to challenge the law through constitutional means, including litigation.

Acha emphasized that true peace can only be achieved through justice and mutual respect, urging the Ebonyi State government to suspend the implementation of the disputed provisions related to the renaming of villages and land demarcation.