Political saboteurs disrupting efforts at ending Ebonyi, Benue boundary crisis ~ Official

The council chairman of Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State, Clement Odah Friday alleged that the lingering boundary crisis between Ngbo community and Agila in Benue State, which resulted in the killings of over one hundred persons, was politically motivated.

Speaking at his residence in Abakaliki, Odah claimed that the efforts being put in place to end the killings in the area were being deliberately sabotaged.

According to him, the boundary dispute between the people of Ebonyi and the people of Benue has lasted over one hundred years.

“Government after government, we are confronted with two major dimensions of insecurity; the external interstate problem, which is between Ngbo community in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi state and Agila in Benue state.

Odah said the government had, at different times, tried to bring an end to the situation.

“I don’t know what happened in the previous governments but I want to say that since I took over the saddle of the council in 2015, a lot of efforts has been put in place both the conventional and unconventional approach. We have liaised with all authorities beginning from the vice president and the chairman of the National boundary commission.

“The office of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi state, chief David Umahi is working with the governor of Benue state and most of the time, the office of the deputy governor, Barr. Eric Kelechi igwe has done a lot of things about it.

“Some meetings have been held, some of which took place in Abuja and uncountable meetings took place in my council headquarters and in the office of the deputy governor.

“The council has voluntarily and generously sponsored all the movements, meetings and initiatives. Some time in the past, about three years ago, there was no eruption or crisis. Peace lasted for about three years. We were convinced that we have brought to an end the unfortunate boundary dispute between the two states.

“It was until four months ago, when there was resurgence. Though because of the nature of security, we may not go in detail. The resurgence of the crisis between Ngbo and Agila area, has a political dimension. The details of the situation has been documented by security agents. There is a deliberate efforts by certain persons to sabotage the peace talk, this aspect have been well noted by the security authorities.

“When the bloodshed became unbearable sometime in April this year, the governor dissolved all the security committees established in the three villages of Ngbo as a way to douse the situation,” he stated.