Ebonyi State: Gov't Moves To Restore Peace In Amasiri, Okporojo Communal Land Dispute
From Omaka OKOH, (ABAKALIKI)
Ebonyi State Government has commenced moves to restore peace between the people of Okporojo in Edda local government and Ndukwe, Amasiri in Afikpo local government areas.
The two neighbouring communities, for over a decade, have engaged in a fratricidal war, leading to killings and wanton destruction of property worth several millions of Naira.
Hostilities got to a climax recently when over 20 persons from both sides were killed into he process.
However committed to finding a lasting solution, the state government through the office of the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Donatus Ilang, commenced a technical boundary tracing within the disputed land between Okporojo in Edda Local Government and Ndukwe, Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government.
The Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Donatus Ilang, led a team of stakeholders from both Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas, including the two council Chairmen, the two Coordinators of Amasiri DC and Edda North DC, ten elders from both sides, surveyors from the state government and security agents
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, Dr Ilang said: "We're here for fact-finding to authenticate the submissions you have made to the state government and to seek for lasting solution that will bring sustainable peace here. We are brothers and sisters, and this piece of land can not separate us.
"I appreciate Governor Francis Nwifuru, who has given us this mandate of ensuring that peace is maintained in all parts of the state. We want to assure the people of Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government and Idima in Edda of the full commitment of our Governor in restoring peace in this place.
"What we need from you is total cooperation and in no distance time peace will return. I commend the two Council Chairmen of Afikpo and Edda LGAs and the two coordinators of Amasiri and Edda North, traditional rulers and stakeholders of both local government areas, security agencies and surveyors for their commitment to peace.
"I enjoin all the stakeholders of the two affected communities to prevail on their youths to toe the path of peace to ensure that Governor Nwifiru's move to restore peace in the Area is actualized in a good record time."
The Executive Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Nwachi Timothy and his Edda counterpart, Prince Chima Ekumankama, commended the swift response of Governor Nwifuru to the cry of their people in the disputed land and extolled the zeal displayed by the Commissioner of Border Peace.
They assured that they will abide by any decision taken by the State Government for lasting peace to return between the two warring communities
On their part, the Coordinators of Amasiri Development Center, Hon. Baron Enya and his Edda North counterpart, Hon (Mrs) Cecilia Nkama Nkama Ude, said the move by the Governor to restore peace in that axis has been their collective yearnings, urging their people to respect any decisions taken by the state government to ensure the restoration of peace in Okporojo and Amasiri boundary.
The representative of Amasiri people, Chief Amadi Sunday Ogbonnia and that of Edda, Mr George Ukpai , also commended state Governor for his quick intervention, expressing optimism that the return of permanent peace in the area will serve as consolation for the souls that have been wasted as a result of the land dispute
As at the time of filling this report, the technical boundary tracing have got down to works teaching the bush connecting Otorowi stream which runs from the innermost part of the bush to the express way with the surveyors establishing the coordinates between the points.
