Ebonyi State Government on Thursday commenced the technical boundary tracing within the disputed land between Okpor ojoo in Edda Local Government and Ndukwe, Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government, with the sole aim of restoring peace in the disputed area.
The Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Donatus Ilang who led a team of stakeholders from both Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas, including the two Council Chairmen, the two Coordinators of Amasiri DC & Edda North DC, ten elders from both sides, surveyors from the State Government, Security Agents and others, to the disputed boundary, stated that Ebonyi State Government under the watch of Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, is totally committed to ensuring that peace reign in all parts of the State. He encouraged the people to cooperate with government to achieve a lasting peace in the area.
“Dr Ilang said, “we’re here for fact fnding 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 His Excellency, our dear Governor 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”.
He commended 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.
He enjoined 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 A. U 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 which according to them, is uncommon and 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, stated that the move by the Governor to restore peace in that axis has been their collective yearnings and urged their people to respect any decisions taken by the state Government to ensure the restoration of peace in Okporo-ojoor and Amasiri boundary.
The representative of Amasiri people, Chief Amadi Sunday Ogbonnia and that of Edda, Mr George Ukpai , expressed gratitude to the 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
The technical boundary tracing took over 5hours journey into 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.
The Commissioner however, appealed for calm as the tracing continues, assuring the people of government genuine efforts in ensuring return of lasting peace within the shortest possible time.