Communal crisis: Ebonyi council boss declares disputed land buffer zone

Following the attack on some people and destruction of properties by the people of Amaeta and Ogiri village both in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over a parcel of land, the council Chairman of the area, Prince Chima EkumaNkama, has declared the disputed land as a buffer zone.

The council boss gave the warning during a meeting with stakeholders of the two villages at Edda North Development Centre secretariat, Oso Edda, yesterday after the two villages engaged in a crisis that resulted in the burning of a car, a house while many sustained varying degrees of Machete injuries.

He, however, read the riot act to the two villages and charged them to embrace peace or face the wrath of the law.

According to him, he is determined to deal with anyone that violates the directive severely in collaboration with the security agencies. He reiterated that the primary role of every government is the protection of lives and property, which according to him, the state government is determined to do.

He, however, urged the two villages to dedicate more energy and resources to farming to avoid famine in the future than fighting and destruction of lives and properties.

His words “Consider this opportunity given to you by the state government to make peace, for this peace to reign. Consider the people here who had one or two official engagements today, but abandoned them to be here, for this peace to reign.

“Therefore, I urge you people to embrace peace. This is not the time to fight; if you fight now instead of doing your farm work, it means famine beckons tomorrow. So, let’s embrace peace.

“By the power conferred on me as chairman of Edda Local Government Area, where these two neighbouring villages are located, I hereby declare the land in dispute a buffer zone, from now onwards.

“It means no native from either Amaeta village or Ogiri village should enter into the area, for farming or any other activity until further notice.

“Take this decision very seriously. Don’t taste the water. Don’t try the government. If anybody goes against this order, I will instruct the security agencies to deal with such a person. And so it’s in your own best interest not to violate this directive.”

He thanked the security agencies and stakeholders for ensuring that tranquility and orderliness reigned during the meeting. A buffer zone is a neutral area serving to separate hostile forces or nations.

Meanwhile, the two leaders of the two ‘warring’ villages have signed an undertaking to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the area.

The undertaking was to ensure the sustenance of peace between the two brothers.

The undertaking was signed by Chief Uduma Agwu and Mr Clement Eze for Amaeta village; Chief Ude Orji and Osuu Ama Okoro for Ogiri village, read in part, “That the two villages henceforth are barred from entering into the troubled portion of the land which has been declared Buffer zone by the Executive Chairman of Edda LGA, Prince Chima Ekuma Nkama.

“That henceforth anybody seen with an armed weapon shall be apprehended and prosecuted, accordingly.

“That henceforth, we the two villages shall maintain adequate peace and tranquility, failure of which shall attract arrest and prosecution.”

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