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By Tunde Uchegbuo
Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has promised to give one hundred thousand naira to each of the first ten families in Obelle to return home.
He also assured that he and his political appointees from the area would shift base to the community to motivate the people to return.
Obelle community was sacked over three months ago by a group of armed youths.
Speaking at a meeting on Sunday, July 3, at the community town hall, Lloyd assured that the council has put in place appropriate security measures for a full return to social and economic activities, as well as the protection of lives and property in Obelle, but expressed worries over the slow return of the people to their homes.
The chairman said he was particularly disturbed by the challenges to the elderly and families that cannot afford the extravagances of living outside their homes are going through and expressed fear over impending famine owing to the fact that the community was sacked at the peak of farming season.
He, however, disclosed that his government has commenced negotiations with relevant government agencies on how to provide relief materials to the people to mitigate the effects of the crisis when they return home.
Lloyd, while urging the people to make concerted efforts towards sustaining the achievements the council has made so far, reiterated that the setting up of the EMOVIS security outfit was aimed at forestalling further breakdown of law and order in communities in the LGA.
The council boss, who expressed concern over allegations that some chiefs in the community had become partisan in the crisis, cautioned against such. He emphasized that such behaviour is inimical to bringing life back to the community.
In their remarks, Chief Ferdinand Dabiri and Dr Dominic Azuokwu commended the Emolga council boss for his untiring commitment to ensuring that Obelle people return to their homes, and assured him that the community would give the needed support to achieving the task.
Lloyd later took an assessment of the level of damage in the area.
