The office of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded to a protest by relatives and sympathisers of engineers from NELAN Consulting Engineers who were killed during the 2021 communal crisis in Ebonyi State, describing the incident as a painful tragedy.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister’s office said the protest followed renewed concerns by families of the late engineers, while acknowledging the grief associated with their deaths.

“The death of the NELAN engineers remains a painful tragedy. No family deserves such grief, and the Honourable Minister understands the weight of that loss,” the statement said.

The office noted that the incident occurred on November 3, 2021, during the violent communal conflict between Effium and Ezza Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to the statement, the engineers were caught in the wider crisis that affected the area at the time.

“The unfortunate disappearance of the engineers occurred at the height of the violent Effium vs. Ezza Effium communal conflict, a crisis that consumed lives and properties and threw the area into severe insecurity,” the statement read.

It added that the victims “were not singled out in isolation” but were among several people who lost their lives during the conflict.

The minister’s office further stated that Umahi, who was governor of Ebonyi State at the time of the incident, ordered an immediate response after receiving information about the disappearance of the engineers.

“Immediately the information about the incident reached the then Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, he swiftly mobilized security agencies and launched intensive search and investigative efforts to determine the whereabouts of the engineers and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.

It added that the former governor personally visited the area alongside security operatives during the search efforts.

According to the statement, the investigation led to the arrest of suspects who allegedly confessed to the crime, and the matter has remained in court since then.

“These efforts led to the arrest of individuals involved in the dastardly act. Those arrested confessed to committing the crime, and they have remained in custody since then. The matter is still before the court,” the statement noted.

The minister’s office stressed that the state government under Umahi did not abandon the case, insisting that the suspects were arrested and handed over to the judicial system.

“It must therefore be clearly understood that the government under Senator Umahi did not abandon the matter, suppress it, or fail to act,” the statement added.

While sympathising with the families of the deceased engineers, the minister called for discussions around the issue to be guided by facts and respect for the ongoing judicial process.

The statement added that Umahi remains committed to justice and continues to pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for their families.