Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Government said it will take over the disputed land between the people of Umobor in Akaeze Community and Ogwor in Ishiagu Community both in Ivo Local Government Area of the State should the both parties fail to reconcile and ensure restoration of peace in the area within the next two weeks.
Governor Francis Nwifuru gave the warning at a meeting with stakeholders of the two communities in his office at the Government House, Abakaliki
Both communities have been embroiled in a communal clash over the Elueke parcel of land, a development that has claimed many lives, properties worth millions destroyed and constituted a threat to the peace of the State.
Governor Nwifuru appealed to the people to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and further maintained that the disputed Elueke land remains a buffer Zone.
“I called for this meeting to reconcile the aggrieved brothers of Akaeze and Ishiagu Communities in Ivo Local Government Area. Peace is all about give and take. We are all here to make sacrifices and submit to the will of the people. What the people want is peace, law and order and that is the mandate they gave me.”
“It is very shameful that the people of Umobor and Ogwor have allowed wars to tier them apart. Ordinarily, you should not have allowed third parties to come in between your problems.
“You may not know the meaning of the peace you enjoy until you lose it that is when you will know the meaning of absence of peace”.
He thereafter the peace meeting constituted a committee to visit the boundary and work out modalities for peaceful resolution of the crisis .
The committee comprises of two Village Heads, one youth leader from each of the communities, five Elders each, the Council Chairman, two Development Centre Coordinators, Executive Council Members from the Council area as well as Security Agencies.
