Cross River State government has taken over a disputed parcel of land that has brewed communal clash between the Ekukunela-Alesi community in Ikom LGA and the Odonget/Ochon/Isabang community in Obubra LGA to bring peace to the area.
The decision was made after deputy governor, Dr. Peter Odey, convened a meeting with community leaders and stakeholders in Calabar.
Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu, called for the immediate suspension of farming activities on the disputed parcel of land by the communities residents’ until proper boundary demarcation is carried out.
The deputy governor’s chief press secretary, Fred Abua, said the initiative was to end the loss of life and property.
He asked community leaders, representatives from both Ikom and Obubra LGAs to submit all relevant documents on the crisis to the secretary to the state government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, who also chairs the peace committee.
In the same vein the state government has also set up an 8-Man peace committee to Identify immediate and remote cause of the crises and recommend sustainable solution to the government.
The Governor urged parties involved in the crisis to sheath their sword and embrace peace, as government will not condone any further acts of violence or defiance of government directives.
Governor Otu directed the Chairmen of the affected local government areas, as Chief Security Officers of their jurisdictions, to ensure full compliance with the resolutions, threatening that failure to enforce these directives will attract immediate suspension from office.
