Published December 17, 2024
By Agbetu Becky
The Ebonyi state Governor, Francis Nwifuru has appealed to the people of Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor-Ishiagu communities both in the Ivo local government area of the state, to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
Governor Nwifuru made the plea during a meeting with stakeholders from both communities at his office in the New Government House, Abakaliki, the state capital.
The lingering crisis between Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor-Ishiagu communities in the Ivo Local Government Area has led to numerous casualties and significant property damage, prompting Governor Nwifuru to declare the disputed land a buffer zone a few days ago. This renewed conflict, which escalated recently, has further exacerbated the decades-long dispute over the fertile Elueke land.
Governor Nwifuru, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, and obtained by Channels Television on Monday evening, reiterated that the disputed land remains a buffer zone.
He warned that the state government will take over the land, if the communities fail to reconcile within the next two weeks, the state government will take over the land.
“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.
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“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”.
Governor Nwifuru also constituted a committee to visit the boundary and work out modalities for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Recall that on Friday last week, Governor Francis Nwifuru declared the disputed Elueke land a buffer zone following renewed clashes between the Umuobor-Akaeze and Ogwor-Ishiagu communities in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The communal clashes have resulted in numerous casualties and significant properties damaged
