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| Members of C'River/ Abia Assemblies with CRS Dep. Governor Prof. Ivara Esu. Photo Credit: Ejemot Esu |
The Joint Border and Security Committee of the Cross River State and Abia State Houses of Assembly has called on the federal government through the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to urgently delineate the boundary between Cross River State and Abia State to bring lasting peace between the people of Utuma (Biase LGA), Ukwa Eburutu (Odukpani LGA) both in Cross River State and Isu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
The two communities of Isu and Utuma have been locked in a land dispute, leading to deaths and destruction of properties worth millions. The crises deepened following the discovery of limestone in the disputed area.
This call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the committee in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The communiqué which was signed by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams Jones, the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, Rt. Hon. Ogbor Ogbor Udop (Member representing Biase State Constituency, Cross Rivers State), Dr. Mike Ukoha (Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Abia State House of Assembly), Hon. Chukwu Chijioke (Deputy Minority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly), and Hon. Francis E. B. Asuquo (Member, Cross River State House of Assembly), also called for the cessation of hostilities and immediate convening of peace and reconciliation committees made of traditional leaders, elites, women and youth leaders from all the sides.
The communiqué reads in part:
The two communities of Isu and Utuma have been locked in a land dispute, leading to deaths and destruction of properties worth millions. The crises deepened following the discovery of limestone in the disputed area.
This call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the committee in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The communiqué which was signed by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams Jones, the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, Rt. Hon. Ogbor Ogbor Udop (Member representing Biase State Constituency, Cross Rivers State), Dr. Mike Ukoha (Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Abia State House of Assembly), Hon. Chukwu Chijioke (Deputy Minority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly), and Hon. Francis E. B. Asuquo (Member, Cross River State House of Assembly), also called for the cessation of hostilities and immediate convening of peace and reconciliation committees made of traditional leaders, elites, women and youth leaders from all the sides.
The communiqué reads in part:
1. That the committee members strongly condemn the hostilities between the neighboring communities of the two states particularly Biase and Odukpani in Cross River and Arochukwu LGA of Abia State.
2. That the members call for cessation of hostilities and immediate convening of peace and reconciliation committees made of traditional leaders, elites, women and youth leaders from all the sides.
3. That Honourable Members representing the affected state constituencies should engage their people with a view to fostering lasting peace.
4. That there would be a visit of members of Cross River and Abia States Houses of Assembly joint committee on security to the affected areas on a date to be announced later.
5. That the National Boundary Commission (NBC) should as a matter of urgency, delineate the proper boundaries of the affected areas.
6. That the Commissioners of Police of the two neighboring states deploy patrol teams to monitor the security of the affected areas".
, Ukwa, Utuma (Cross River) Boundary){kind=link}
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