By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Government is intervening in 19 boundary disputes and 29 community, kindred and family conflicts across the state, the Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Awo Nwobasi, has disclosed.
Nwobasi, who spoke to journalists in Abakaliki, said the disputes involved land ownership, community boundaries, leadership tussles and other longstanding disagreements, some dating as far back as 1912 and 1933.
He said the ministry was using dialogue, mediation, fact-finding, community engagement, traditional institutions and technical surveying to address the conflicts and prevent them from escalating into violence.
Among the boundary cases are the Abomege-Ishinkwo dispute in Onicha Local Government Area and the Ndiakparata-Ndubia/Ndiezoke-Ndiechi dispute in Izzi LGA.
Nwobasi said a fact-finding exercise was conducted in April on the Abomege-Ishinkwo dispute, involving government officials, surveyors and representatives of the affected communities. He said previous confrontations over the dispute had resulted in deaths, including the killing of the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo.
He added that government intervention in the Ndiakparata-Ndubia/Ndiezoke-Ndiechi dispute produced a peace agreement, while a subsequent fact-finding mission was conducted in August to examine the competing boundary claims.
The commissioner also disclosed that the ministry was handling 10 community leadership and election disputes, including those in Amaeze Ishiagu, Idembia Ishieke, Omege Echara, Imoha Nkalagu, Ndiegbe, Ndiabor Ishieke and Ndiechi.
He said some of the cases had been resolved, citing Omege Echara where a fresh youth election was conducted and new executives inaugurated in February 2026.
Nwobasi said the ministry was equally involved in implementing court judgments relating to communal disputes. He cited the Onyirigbo Enclave case, where the state inaugurated a 15-member Peace Implementation Committee to facilitate implementation of a court judgment between Ameffia-Amaeku community in Ohaukwu LGA and Ulepa Ntezi community in Ishielu LGA.
He said traditional institutions were also being used in resolving disputes involving customary practices, citing the referral of the Nkwegu Ijere and Onyirigbo matter to the Amagu Izzi Council of Elders.
On the Amasiri-Edda boundary crisis, Nwobasi said Governor Francis Nwifuru had constituted a Boundary Adjustment and Demarcation Committee following the February 6, 2026 Okporojo incident.
He said the committee had visited disputed areas, met residents, conducted surveys and submitted an interim report to the governor on September 8.
According to him, the governor subsequently directed the affected communities to maintain the status quo and avoid trespassing on disputed land pending the completion of the demarcation process.
Nwobasi also denied allegations on social media that the ministry collects gratification from communities seeking government intervention, describing the claim as misinformation.
He urged members of the public to verify such allegations through official channels.