The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested the Chairman of the Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, and the member representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency, Mr Chinedu Awo, in connection with the recent killings and destruction of property in Effium and Ezza Effium communities.

This was just as residents told journalists that the death toll was now above 40.

Although there was no official confirmation about the number of deaths, reliable sources in the communities told our correspondent on Sunday that the death toll had risen astronomically.

A former Secretary to the State Government, Prof.  Bernard Odoh, said in a statement that the death toll had risen to over 40, adding that he would challenge anybody or authority that says otherwise.

Odoh quoted villagers and information available on social media as stating that 10 persons were killed on Friday.

According to Odoh, many residents have since fled their homes and farm settlements to nearby villages in horrible sceneries reminiscent of the civil war situation.

A source claimed that 15 young men, who were members of a musical band, were killed on Sunday, while on their way to perform at an occasion.

But the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, insisted that only seven persons were killed, while nine others were injured.

However, his claims were disputed by many sources in the communities and journalists, who visited the area as part of the entourage of the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, on Sunday.

Dead bodies littered the communities when the deputy governor visited the area on Sunday.

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Also arrested were some 30 other major stakeholders from the communities, including coordinators of Effium and Effium South Development Centres, Mr Sunday Agbo and Mrs Eucharia Ogwale, respectively.

A former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Special Assistant on Market Development, Emmanuel Uzor, as well as his counterpart in charge of Parks Development, Mr Emmanuel Igwe, were equally arrested.

A former lawmaker, who represented the Ohaukwu North State Constituency and Governor David Umahi’s Special Assistant on Youth Development, Mr Frank Onwe, was also among those arrested.

The arrests, it was learnt, were on the orders of the deputy governor.

It was gathered that no fewer than seven persons were killed, while many sustained varying degrees of injury as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers clashed in Effium and Ezza Effium communities, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

According to a source, a faction of the union from Effium clashed with another faction from Ezza Effium over the sharing formula of the revenue generated from the park.

The source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the clash spilled into the communities, leading to casualties on both sides.

Houses, cars and other property were also torched, with many residents deserting the communities.

It was gathered that health workers and staff members of the National Population Commission, who were on assignment in the area, were caught in the crossfire.

Following the incident, the Ebonyi State Government, on Saturday, announced a ban on the activities of the NURTW in the Effuim Motor Park in the Ohaukwu LGA.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Mr Stanley Okoro-Emegha, announced the ban in Abakaliki.