The displaced indigenes of Urugbam community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have urged the government of Cross River to urgently implement the resolutions reached at the Joint Consultative meeting of Cross River and Ebonyi Interstate Boundary, held at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
According to them, the resolutions reached at the meeting, captured everything that would ensure that peace reigned among the communities in Biase Local Government Areas of the state, who had been warring over a disputed piece of land (plantation).
The displaced indigenes of Cross River origin, who had been taking refuge in Ekoli Edda community, in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Okun-Ohafia community in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, stated this when a 10-man delegation sent by the Cross River government, came to see them in the Nguzu Edda community, Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi State.
9news Nigeria had reported that there had been an inter-communal land dispute between the people of Egbor and Urugabm in Biase LGA of Cross River State, which incidentally stretched to their neighbours, in Ekoli Edda community, in the Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi State.
The violence was reportedly said to have claimed many lives, led to destruction of over 70 houses and saw to the displacement of over 5,000 Cross River State indigenes from Urugbam community, since December, 2018.
Spokesperson for the displaced Cross River indigenes, Bishop Frank Owali, pointed out that the resolutions, which according to him, was signed and sealed in the presence of Deputy Governors of Cross River and Ebonyi States, Prof Ivara Esu and Dr Kelechi Igwe and the Director-General of National Boundary Commission, Dr M.B. Ahmed, directed among other things, the arrest of an Igbo businessman, who allegedly is believed to be the mastermind of the crisis.
While urging the NBC to urgently step-up moves geared towards tracing and demarcating the disputed land, which he noted would put an end to the lingered violence in the area, he maintained, “Urugbam people are under an Ancestral oath not to encroach into any parcel of land that does not belong to us, just as we are not in a hurry to cede any part of out lands to anybody.”
Meanwhile, the Cross State Government, during the visit of the 10-man delegation to the displaced indigenes, urged them to return to their ancestral home.
According to Governor Ben Ayade, the State government had made necessary arrangements for the safe return of the indigenes, saying, “Your home belongs to you and nobody has the ancestral, cultural and legal right to take it away from you.”
Represented by the Paramount Ruler of Biase LGA, His Royal Highness Nicholas Odum, Governor Ayade said the state government deeply felt what the displaced indigenes had been through in a strange land and assured them that peace had returned to the home.
“We have come to see you, our people, who have been here in Afikpo South LGA-Ebonyi State, for over five months now; who have left their ancestral home, not willingly. We have been sent by the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade.
“We want to assure you that peace have returned to your home and that our efforts to make you return to your home and live in peace will not be in vain.
“Myself as the Paramount Ruler and Ononodum of Biase LGA, have led
this team to Afikpo South LGA, in Ebonyi State. We feel for you.”
The Governor thanked the Chairman of Afikpo South LGA, Dr Eni-Uduma
Chima and the good people of Ekoli Edda community, who, he noted had taken good care of the displaced Cross River indigenes.
Addressing the delegation, Chairman of Afikpo South LGA, Dr Eni-Udum Chima, said although the matter was already being handled at the state levels, the people of Ekoli Edda were one with Biase LGA, of Cross River State, adding since the Urugbam people ran to the community in the manner they came, everybody wondered whether there were no people in Biase LGA.
He said he was pained with the pathetic situation of the people and
complained to the Deputy Governor of Cross River, Prof Ivara Esu, to
help ensure he connected with the chairman of Biase LGA, saying that,
“I tried to connect to with the chairman for 26 times, but all to no
avail.’
According to Chima, “You know this issue is both intra and inter and
we are not here today, to deal with is as it concerns us because it’s
already being handled at the state level and that’s what we have been
doing with every other neighbour.
‘In fact , we hold joint meetings with the Chairman of Ohafia LGA of
Abia State. But like you said we are in the best position to make
suggestions. We are like people living in the house, where the roof
leaks we should know.
“Down here we hold it as a mindset that we are one with all our
brethren in Biase LGA. There is no history of violent dispute between
Edda people and Biase people at least in recent time. There’s none
like that, particularly in Ekoli where I come from and where the
boundary, that is causing the problem, htouches.
“In fact, during the annual initiation ceremony of the Edda boy into
manhood, a delegation must come from Egbor to Libolo village in Afikpo South and perform certain rituals before the initiation is complete.
“Culturally and otherwise we are one and the same people, but devil
came said this peace that you people are enjoying while the rest of
the country is in turmoil, I will disrupt it. And then brought
somebody who came and put sword among brethren so that they fight against themselves.
“Somebody came to cause this problem and to exploit palm plantation he never planted. He gave them money and they purported to have sold everywhere to him. I asked the man, Felix Ezeamama, when you were
paying for this place , did you exercise due diligence? Did you move round to find out the extent of the boundaries? He said he did. The primary school there , did you find about it? He said he did and that they told him we were their tenants. I said Okay, now did you find out from the people there if they were actually tenants? He said, No.”
