The people of Emohua Community in Rivers State came out enmass on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 to celebrate their second peace anniversary as they gave gratitude to God for the restoration of peace, unity and progress in the community.
      The well-attended event was marked by cultural displays, masquerade dance and wrestling amid wining, dining and dancing. Among those in attendance were the Ohna, the supreme traditional council in the community comprising the eight villages of the community, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Elders, youths and security operatives.
      Speaking at the event, the spokesman of Ohna-in council and sponsor of the event, Ohna (Sir) Sergent Chidi Awuse thanked God for the return of peace in the community. He recalled that the community had been in anarchy, as killings, kidnapping, cultism and youth restiveness ravaged the community until God intervened.
      He noted that the peace that exists in the community, today was the handiwork of God who used him as a vessel to achieve his divine purpose in the community. He thanked the warring groups for accepting and maintaining peace in the community. He stressed that without their cooperation, it would have been difficult for peace to reign.
     Awuse reiterated that since the community embraced peace and dedicated the land to God in June 8, 2019, no gun shot had been heard in the community, even the self exiled members of the community and strangers had returned home, peace, unity and progress had been restored to the glory of God.
      Ohna Awuse called on the youths to continue to shun violence and warned those fomenting fresh crisis in the community to desist from their devilish actions before the long arm of the law catches up with them. He noted that Emohua is a peaceful and law abiding community and would remain same under his watch with God by his side. He promised that the peace anniversary shall be an annual event.
      Also speaking, a member of Emohua Council of Chiefs and Chairman Emohua security council, Chief (Barr) Chinedu Enyi thanked Emohua people for their attendance, particularly Ohna Council and the youths as well as the Sponsor of the event, Ohna (sir) Sergent Awuse. He said the humongous crowd that graced the event was an indication that the community is ready for peace and unity.
      He urged the people to make security their watch word and peace their mantra, because without peace and security there would be no progress.
He commended Ohna Awuse for giving employment to the youths in his various companies which had contributed in eradicating youth restiveness in the community.
     In his address at the event one of the youth leaders in the community, Mr Dominion Enyi recalled that before June 8, 2019 when the community embraced peace, Emohua was known as a haven for cultists, kidnappers and criminals before God intervened through Ohna (sir) Sergent Chidi Awuse which made the community to bestow the Ohna title on him in appreciation for his efforts to return peace, unity and progress to the community.
      Enyi maintained that Ohna Awuse did not only initiate and execute peace in Emohua he also ignited economic change and turn around by establishing the first ever paper recycling plant in Rivers State in Emohua, poultry feed mill, massive poultry farm and hatchery which gave employment to over 500 youths and others of employable age in Emohua, as well as providing avenue for repentant cultists and criminals to be meaningfully engaged.
      Also speaking, the unit Commander, Anti-Cultism Emohua Local Government, SP Emmanuel Egapi urged the repentant cultists and criminals who have repented not to go back to crime and those still in possession of fire arms to surrender them to the police as he called for the corporation of the youths and the entire community to enable them succeed.

By: Jacob Obinna