The Effium community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is now a ghost of itself following Saturday resurgence of the aged long community war between Effium people and their Ezza settlers.
A reliable source told newsmen that the community is virtually empty as villagers flee for safety.
About seven persons are believed to have been killed and many seriously injured in the latest confrontation which sparked off among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Leadership crisis in the union has been identified as the cause of the problem which saw the faction of the union from Effium clash with the faction from Ezza Effium.
Sharing formula for the revenue generated from the park is believed to be the bone of contention.
He said the clashes spread into the community leading to casualties on both sides.
Houses, cars and other property were also torched as the crisis spilled over into the community.
There was pandemonium in the community as the crisis escalated with many deserting the community to neighbouring communities.
Also, health workers and staff of the National Population Commission who were on assignment in the area were cut in the crossfire.
Following the incident, Ebonyi State Government announced a ban on activities of the Union in Effuim Motor Park in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in the state, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha, announced the ban in Abakaliki, yesterday.
Emegha said the clashes engulfed the entire Effuim and Ezza Effium communities because the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the area allowed politicians to meddle into the affairs of the union.
He said that Ohaukwu Local Government authorities would be mandated to take over the park where the incident emanated from.
“It was not something that happened on the grounds of IPOB, neither was it a politically related matter; it was a national transport union case dragging the leadership of a motor park.
