EBONYI state Government under the leadership of Engr. David Nweze Umahi said the war between Ebonyi and Cross River State which so many lives has been wasted and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed can only be nailed down politically since boundary denominations are not spell out.
Governor umahi stated this when he received the Honourable Minister for Interior Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazau and his team including GOC of 82 division Enugu and other security chiefs in Ebonyi on a courtesy call at government house Abakaliki.
“I want to suggest strongly under the security Agencies to draw an instrument lines and we have what is called Ebonyi Claim, Cross River Claim the same thing in benue , so I will suggested strongly that we do everything possible to fix this instrument lines then the claim of the different states and then let us drive towards political solution to that Since Boundary denominations is not spell out NBC.
Governor Umahi, who maintained he was brought to leadership by God to bring peace to areas that are on the war in his area, thanked the President for the initiative map out in securing lives and properties in the land.
Umahi further said that efforts to get the government of cross river to discuss on the issue have yielded nothing. He maintained that it can only take two hands to clap and urged the minister to draw the government of Cross River to end the problem.
“the crisis I was told is over 100years back, and I believe that every problem comes with it seed of solutions. Leaders are appointed by God for different purposes . I believe that we leaders have been appointed to secure the lives of defenceless women and children that are being slaughtered along those borders.
He further advised the minister to direct the police in Ebonyi and cross river to liaise and have a common denominator of dealing with the matter and in giving advise on how to handle the case because it reflects that the attitude of the police and DSS is a reflection of the government and shouldn’t be.
He assured his readiness to assist the Hon. Minister bring peace among the state with all Honesty towards the resolution of the matter says all that misbehaved after the two deputy governor initiated peace with the GOC and service chiefs has been arrested and still in detention.
He, however, condemned the killing and destruction of properties of people and described Ebonyi as the most peaceful state when it comes to herdsmen problem.
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Meanwhile, the minister of interior, internal security public safety and a member National food Security council Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazau who was on a two days tour in Ebonyi state says his mission in Ebonyi is to end intra state war between Ebonyi and Cross River States .he said the lost of lives and estruction of properties cannot be taking for granted.
“So ours is to see how this problem could be solve because our visit is not to apportion blame but to ensure that every problem by the grace of God has a solution and we cannot lay our hand on that solutions unless we sit down and talk and identify all the factors in order to arrive at sound conclusion the crisis remain the problem that affect the common man, affect people in the rural communities who depend on farming to survive.”
He further said that it is the duty of government to ensure that lives of the people and their properties are well protected and their welfare also guarantees.
“Whatever will can do to deal with this situation, we will do. Outside the dialogue we will deal with, there is the issue of impunity we will not allow people to go freely carrying violence against people who have no knowledge about what is happening.
The police and other security Agencies must continue to do what they have been doing.
I want to appreciate all the efforts of the security Agencies the GOC 82Division is here and I know all the efforts he has been making and that has been attested by both state.
However, in an interview with some of the displaced persons at Oshiegbe Primary School, Onunwakpu(IDP camp) Mrs Nnaji Felicia Ngujiola said “the war started since 2005 and since then, Ukele people have not allowed us to rest, they have been killing us.
They have ceased our farmlands and chased us away. See the crowd that is here, we have been displaced, we have no place to live again because they have destroyed, burnt our houses. We are appealing to the federal government to demarcate the land so that we can know the place that is our own because we don’t even know whether we are in Cross River or Ebonyi
state.
Also speaking is Edegbe Josephine Chioma(SS1) from Ngujiola village and student of Bright Destiny International Secondary School Ndiakparata Narrated how the ordeal has caused so much havoc in their esucational system.
“Some teachers teaching us are no longer coming to school for fear of attack because they are not residing here. Over ten schools in this place including public and private ones have been shut down because of this crisis.
I feel so sad. I was in school when this war resurfaced when we hurriedly closed school. I was five years when this war started in 2005. I am sad because many innocent people are dying because of this war, we are not happy seeing our children, parents and people killed because of this war. We want to be free from this war” she expressed.
But I cannot leave without coming to see you the IDPs. As I can see here, the bulk of these victims are women and children and I want to assure you that federal government is not happy about your situation, it is very sad because in this country, there should be freedom for everybody to leave his life in accordance with the law.
And whereby people are displaced from their homes in whatever circumstance, it is not something that will make us sleep well.
The minister assured the IDPs that federal government in colloboration with the two sister state will do everything possible to ensure that they are resettled back to their homes to continue their normal lives.
He urged them never to revenge but leave the matter in the hands of God.
and then