The police on Thursday arrested Mr. Fidelis Okpata, deputy chief of staff to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi.
Also arrested were traditional rulers and other government officials.
They were arrested on the directive of the governor.
Umahi said those arrested were from the two warring communities in Ikwo local government area of the state and that they were said to be involved in the crisis.
The officials and others were at an enlarged security meeting convened on the communal clash between Ekpomaka and Inyimegu communities of the area when Umahi ordered the arrest.
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The governor also ordered the arrest of those who were not present at the meeting like Frederick Udogu, chairman of Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board, and Eso Udogu, coordinator of Ikwo South Development Centre.
He said they were also said to be involved.
The governor said the Commissioner for Justice, Cletus Ofoke, should obtain a court order to detain them.
“They should remain in detention until they sign an undertaking that no further life would be lost or property destroyed in both communities,” he said, adding that he didn’t mind losing all the votes from the areas.
“I will not keep quiet and watch people die unnecessarily and properties destroyed due to irrelevant issues,” he said.
