C'River Lawmaker Preaches Peace Amid Tension Over Iron Ore Exploration In Ikom-Boki Communities

By Missang AKPET

Indigenes of Bendeghe Afi community in Ikom LGA and Esobendeghe community in Boki LGA have been urged to embrace peace and live in harmony for development to strive.

The Minority Leader of Cross River State House of Assembly and member representing Ikom 1 State constituency, Hon Samuel Neji Abang, who gave the charge in a reconciliation meeting to broker peace and chart a way forward with regards to iron Exploration in both communities, said development can only come in when there is peace.

The lawmaker said the two sister communities have been living in harmony not until the issue of mineral exploration came, urging them not to allow themselves to be used as agents of their own destruction.

The paramount ruler of Ikom local government, Minen Takon Atangba who played host to the meeting in his palace, advised the two communities to embrace dialogue as the best means to settle crisis as violence has never done anyone good.

At the end of the meeting, both parties declared no mining in their communities while resolving to live in peace and harmony.

It has been confirmed that Bendeghe Afi community and neighbouring Esobendeghe in Cross River State hold deposits of iron ore yet to be tapped and the exploration of this resources is what has caused the crisis between the two sister communities.