Ebonyi land dispute: Excavator procured for demarcation burnt

Despite the efforts being made by the Ebonyi State Government to resolve a lingering land dispute between two communities Abomege/ Ishinkwor in Onicha local government area, suspected warlords from one of the communities have burnt an excavator engaged in demarcating the disputed area.

Hanto Daily reports that the demarcation has been on since this year until Tuesday this week when one of the excavators carrying out the exercise was burnt by suspected warlords.

Speaking with Newsmen who visited the site, the Chairman Onicha Local Government, Chief Ikechukwu Ogbofia who described the incident as unfortunate and an act of sabotage, noted that it occurred one week after one of the warring communities threatened to destroy the equipment being used in the demarcation if it was not done according to their wishes.

Chief Ogbofia who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of the local government, Omekannaya Orogwu, vowed that the incident would not weaken the demarcation exercise but will rather strengthen it.

“There is no amount of threat, there is no amount of sabotage that will stop the ongoing demarcation of the communities because to us as a government, that will bring permanent solutions to that age-old war”, he said.

He made it clear that the government will take another measure to ensure that will ensure the completion of the demarcation and urged the warring communities to embrace peace and cooperate with the state government to bring lasting peace.

One of those demarcating the communities, Nwankwo Chidiebere told Journalists that the excavator was used on Monday when it developed some problems that prevented it from being driven out, adding that he was making arrangements to fix it before it was burnt on Tuesday night.

Recall, the two neighbouring communities have been at war since 1902 over a vast fertile land with many lives lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.

Governor Francis had set up a committee to resolve the crisis, which recommended the demarcation of the communities as lasting solution to the crisis.