By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Following the lingering crisis between the people of Umuobor, Akaeze, and Ogwor, Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area over a piece of Land, the Ebonyi State Government will take over the disputed land if the parties fail to reconcile within the next two weeks
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru issued the warning at a meeting with stakeholders of the two communities in his office at the Government House, Abakaliki
For some time now, both communities have been embroiled in a communal clash over the Elueke parcel of land, a development that has constituted a threat to the peace of the State.
The Governor urged them to sheathe swords and embrace peace even as he declared 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”.
The Governor constituted a committee to visit the boundary and work out modalities for peaceful resolution of the crisis .
The committee comprises 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 as well as Security Agencies.
Meanwhile, the Ivo council Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, has commended the Governor’s timely intervention into the age long boundary dispute, which he said have quelled the cruise.
He said, he is aligning with the Governor’s directives to ensure total restoration of peace in the place.