28 Die In Ikwuano, Akwa Ibom boundary dispute

…As Abia Speaker expresses sadness over the incident

Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji has expressed sadness over the alleged killing of 28 people in Ariam Usaka Ukwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state by their neighbouring people of Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State over a land dispute.

Hon Stanley Nwabuisi, Member representing Ikwuano State Constituency had brought up a Matter of Urgent Public Importance before the House at plenary on Tuesday in which he sought the intervention of the security agencies to bring to end the killings.

According to the Lawmaker, no fewer than 28 persons have lost their lives in the crisis and property worth millions of Naira destroyed in Ariam Usaka Ukwu, wondering why the people whom he described as peaceful and law-abiding are subject of aggression by the people Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Hon Stanley Nwabuisi, therefore, prayed that the House mandates security agencies in the State to act swiftly and decisively to stop the wanton killings of Abians in the skirmish.

He also prayed that the House Committee on Land and Boundary Commission fashion out ways of averting further loss of lives and property in the concerned community. In his response, the Speaker in an emotion-laden voice said it’s very sad and pathetic that lives and property were being lost and destroyed between two sister States because of differences that could be resolved amicably.

He insisted that the State will no longer tolerate the gruesome murder of Abians in the name of any crisis

“We want to call on the State Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Services, State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other relevant agencies to step up their game in protecting the lives of Abians who are being massacred in their numbers with Ariam Usaka Ukwuwe having lost 28 people already without them at Ini Local Government Area losing any largely because of the peaceful disposition of those on Abia’s side of the divide.

“Tomorrow, if our people retaliate, it is ours that will make the most headlines.

Now they are killing our people but nobody seems to be saying anything because we are generally known as peace-loving people.

“It is only a tree that will stay in place in the midst of trouble and allow itself to be cut off; we will not advocate violence but we must defend ourselves.

“We are calling on the National Boundary Commission to, as a matter of urgency, if they have not yet been deployed, do the needful to bring this wanton deaths and destruction to an end.

Our people must not be pushed to the wall to the extent that they have to defend themselves” the Speaker stated. In the same vein, the Speaker urged the State Government to initiate contact with Government of the neighboring State to find a lasting solution to the attacks going on in Ikwuano Local Government Area. “Enough is enough“, the Speaker concluded.