FG decries clashes between Cross River, Ebonyi, reveals effect of crisis
crisis between the people of Ukelle in Yala local government area of
Cross River State and Igbeagu community in Izzi local government area
of Ebonyi State.
Speaking with the acting governor of the state, Prof. Ivarra Esu on
Monday, the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd)
expressed sadness over the persistent crisis in the area.
He regretted that the crisis which erupted over the struggle for land
ownership had claimed many lives, and led to the destruction of
properties and farmlands worth several millions of naira.
Dambazau said he was in the state to visit the affected areas with a
view to interacting with the people and getting first hand information
on the current state of things in Ukelle community.
He said he was in the state, not just as the Minister of Interior, but
also as a member of the national food security committee because such
conflicts had a negative impact on food security.
"As a member of the committee I am mandated to look into this
particular case of Cross River and Ebonyi states, which to a large
extent affects farming communities.
"This conflict is about land which the people depend on for survival
because most of the people are farmers. It is important to look at how
these conflicts impact on food security in the country
"Some time ago, I was in Cross River where I visited the affected
areas of the Wanikade and Wanihem communal crisis. I am here on
another visit, on same issue.
"The Federal Government will not give up in ensuring that all these
crises are brought to an end. We are determined to foster peace
between the people of Ukelle and Izzi. The crisis has affected the
farming communities because the contending issue is land.
"We are exploring ways on how the conflict can be resolved. This
crisis has far reaching consequences on food security in the country.
The Federal Government is more concerned about the loss of lives,
destruction of properties, markets and farmlands.
"We have come together with the Director General of National Boundary
Commission, Dr Mohammed Ahmed, we are all heading to the affected
area" he stated. He advised the state government to explore ways of
curbing inter-state conflicts with a view of promoting national
unity."
Speaking earlier, the acting governor, Esu said that Cross River has
always been on the defensive in several inter-state conflicts. He
described the recent attack on the Ukelle people by the Izzi as
tragic, saying that the people struck a day after a peace meeting
between the two states was held.
"We had a meeting just two weeks ago where the two deputy governors
met, the chiefs, lawmakers and the National Boundary Commission. Just
the following day after we returned, the Ukelle people were attacked
again. Minister, please when you visit Ebonyi state; ask them what
they want so that we can start from there.
"The National Boundary Commission should show more visible actions so
that we can know clearly the areas we should enter and the one we
should not. Some pillars have been removed; all these need to be put
in place accordingly. Until this is done, people will still continue
to claim areas that do not belong to them," he said.
When DAILY POST contacted the Cross River State Commissioner of
Police, Mohammed Inuwa Hafiz, he said that the Command had provided
adequate security in the area with a view to protecting lives and
property but regretted that the incident had claimed lives and
property.
"We have provided adequate security in the area. The incident occurred
last in 2005 and it is over land, the two state governments lay claims
on the piece of land there and that the land belongs to them," he
said.
Hafiz expressed hopes that with the involvement of National Boundary
Commission, the issue would be laid to rest forever.
No comments
Post a Comment