Following the ongoing killings and destruction of properties between the Igbeagu in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and Ukele of Cross River State, Governor David Umahi has suspended indefinitely the state Auditor-General of the state, Innocent Nweda, His Royal Highness, Eze Ogbonnaya Ukwa, Mr Cletus Nwakpu, Project Coordinator of the FADAMA 3 Programme and many other stakeholders until peace returns to the area.
Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Commissioner for Border, Peace and Internal Security, announced the suspension of the officials from Igbeagu Community while addressing journalists after the governor’s meeting with people from Igbeagu Community, involved in a boundary dispute with Ukele community in Cross River, on Friday.
According to Ugbala, the Governor who was visibly angry over the lingering crises, also suspended other elected and appointed office holders from Igbeagu Community.
He then called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and Minster of Interior to visit the two communities and put a permanent demarcation to avoid more killings in the area, stressing that the war has caused so many lives and properties destroyed.
His words: “Last year, over 20 persons were killed with over 200 houses burnt forcing the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and Minister of Interior to visit the two communities to find a lasting solution to the crisis but to no avail.
“Last week, a man in Igbeagu Community was beheaded with three others killed by the warlords.
“We sometimes doubt the sincerity of the Federal Government in settling such crisis and view the NBC as a toothless bulldog.
“He has made several visits to the disputed areas even before the inception of the present administration but no decision has been made.
“It is not our duty to demarcate the boundaries and the state government has attended all meetings convened by the NBC, being always disposed to peace.
“We urge the commission to live up to its responsibilities because no land is worth the lives of the citizens.
“The commission only makes ‘urban carol’ visits to the areas whenever there are clashes and we urge the media to mandate it to perform its duties,” Ugbala said.
Meanwhile Governor Umahi was, on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, suspended the chairmen of Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Councils, all elected and appointed office holders from Enyibichiri in Ikwo and Enyigba in Abakaliki over a communal clash between the two local governments which led to the burning to ashes of an infant and six other members of same family while three persons were shot dead by the warlords.
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