Ebonyi Communities Pledge To End Killings, Abductions

Traditional rulers and youths of Oso Edda In Edda local government area and Amaziri community in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State have resolved to end all forms of killings, abductions and other criminal activities in the lingering communal dispute between the two them.

In a peace agreement signed by the leaders of the two communities at the Old Government House, Abakaliki, the leaders resolved to prevail on their warriors to lay down their arms to enable the state government wade into the crisis.

The traditional ruler of Ebunwana Edda, Eze Charles Azuenya and his Amasiri counterpart, Eze Onya Bassey-Idam said that the peace agreement will bring to an end the land dispute between Amasiri and Oso Edda.

Youth leaders from the two communities, Mr. Maduka Amadi from Amasiri and Comrade Nwachi Okoro Ibe from Edda assured that they would take steps to end all forms of hostilities and to cooperate with the Ministry and State Government in their efforts to bring a lasting peace to the trouble area.

“We are happy with the steps taken by the State government in resolving the lingering crisis. We agreed to prevail on the warriors to lay down their arms to enable the State Government wade into the crisis with the aim of resolving the land dispute amicably,” they said.

Both communities urged the Ministry of Border-Peace and Conflict Resolution alongside the Office of the Surveyor General of the State to also take steps in demarcating the disputed land.

Addressing the community, the state commissioner for Border-Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Paul Nwobasi noted that the state government has waded into the crisis through the Ministry of Border-Peace and Conflict Resolution to bring permanent peace to reign in the affected areas.

Prof Nwobasi revealed that mediation and inspection of the disputed areas has commenced adding that the two parties have mutually agreed to halt all forms of hostility for lasting peace to be restored by the state government.

He further maintained that any party or group of persons or individuals that violate the peace agreement would face the laws of Ebonyi State and Federal Republic of Nigeria.