Commission begins investigation into Ebonyi /Cross River communal clash.

National Human Rights Commission,NHRC, has commenced investigations into the communal clash between Azuofia Edda in Ebonyi and Ogurude community in Cross River .

Some officials of the commission led by Abdulraham Ayide were in Ebonyi to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the clash.

Ayide who is the head of protection and investigation in the commission, said the visit would afford the commission the opportunity to do an on the spot assessment of the level of destruction and number of those who lost their lives in the clash.

He said the team was in the state to commiserate with victims of the clash, urged Internally Displaced Persons in the area to eschew violence and to pursue peace and live in harmony with their neighbours.

Ayide decried the increasing spate of violence in the country which had resulted in the killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians and destruction of properties.

He assured the IDPs and other affected victims that the commission was working with security agents and communities to promote peace, security and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens of the country.

Ebonyi Government has meanwhile, called on the commission to ensure thorough investigation into the alleged unprovoked attack on the Azuofia-Edda community of the state.

Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, said proper investigation of the crisis would assist in bringing the perpetrators to book.

Igwe also called for intervention from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to cushion the suffering of the IDPs.

He said government had been providing food and shelter and other welfare packages for the displaced persons who could no longer have access to their farm lands and residential homes.

Maria Moses and Bernard Nwaoba victims of the clash, appealed to the government to ensure that peace was restored in the area to enable them go back and harvest their farm produce.

According to them, the sporadic attacks on them by neighbouring community had made it impossible for the Azuofia-Edda community to harvest their crops.