From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The people of Ukawu autonomous community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have called on their Ishinkwor and Abaomege neighbours in the same local government to cooperate with the boundary demarcation committee set up by the state government to end a 113-year-old boundary dispute.
The people of Ishinkwor and Abaomege have been at war for 113 years over land matters, resulting in numerous lives lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
Efforts by previous administrations in the state to end the fratricidal war have been unsuccessful.
Governor Francis Nwifuru established a demarcation committee to find lasting solutions to the conflict.
However, the warring communities appear to be frustrating the efforts of the state government.
The Ukawu community, a sister community to the warring parties, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru and the Chairman of Onicha Local Government for building bridges of peace through the boundary demarcation of Abaomege and Ishinkwor land to end the war. They urged the communities to cooperate with the land demarcation committee so that peace can reign supreme.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a town hall meeting of the community, signed by its President, Eze Agala James, over the weekend.
Regarding the traditional stool upheaval in the community, the community frowned upon and condemned the activities of miscreants and disgruntled elements whose intentions, as sponsored by enemies of the government, tend to impugn and malign its traditional ruler in a bid to seek attention.
“We urge the security agencies of the state to enhance their surveillance in search of these troublemakers, whose intention is to create mayhem in our peaceful community, and track them down to face the consequences of their actions.
“We pass a vote of confidence in our traditional ruler who, since his inception, has settled scores of threats, misgivings, and disorderly conduct among the people of Ukawu, enabling us to live in peace,” the communiqué stated.