Stakeholders in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi have pledged their commitment to peace, security, and development of the area.

The stakeholders, comprising elected and appointed political office holders, traditional rulers, and community leaders pledged the commitment at an enlarged meeting recently held at Isiaka, Ivo council headquarters.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Tuesday by Mr. Ebi Ajali, Media Assistant to Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, the council’s chairman.

According to the statement, the stakeholders expressed gratitude to the state and Ivo local government administrations for working hard to restore peace to the once crisis-ridden LGA.

The stakeholders, however, decried the recent escalation of violence in the Akaeze community which led to deaths and destruction of property and vowed to collaborate to stem further disruption of peace and security in the area.

The stakeholders decried what they described as biased and sensational media reportage of the Akaeze crisis in January

They blamed the section of the media for sourcing their news from unconfirmed reports on social media.

“We express our utmost gratitude to Gov, Dave Umahi, who upon assumption of office in 2015 threw his hat in the ring, restored and sustained peace in the crisis-ridden Ivo LGA,

“We also extol the exceptional leadership qualities of the council chairman, which began manifesting when he held sway as Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre.

“He ensured that peace and security are sustained in all the communities that make up the council, we sincerely appreciate him for this feat”, the statement said,

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The stakeholders warned of dire consequences for anyone or group working to create tension and truncate the existing peace in the area.

On the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, the leaders expressed their resolve to partner with INEC to ensure the success of the exercise.