COMMUNAL DISPUTE: ABIA ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR DELINEATION OF BOUNDARY

BY ANAYO OKOLI
UMUAHIA - WORRIED that the communal dispute between Ururu, Lokpanta community in Abia State and Amaeze in Ivo council area of Ebonyi State may deepen, Abia State House of Assembly has called for immediate delineation of the boundary between the two communities.

Three weeks ago when the two communities had a clash, there was allegation by Ururu, Lokpanta people that one of their sons, a teenager, was abducted, a claim which was, however, denied by Amaeke community.

The House urged the deputy governor of the state to liaise with his Ebonyi State counterpart to quickly delineate the boundary to avoid further clash between the two communities.

The House also urged the police in Abia and Ebonyi states to jointly maintain security and peace in the area in dispute.

According to the deputy speaker, Chief Alwell Asiforo Okere, who announced this during a briefing, SETRACO, the construction company which has quarry base in the disputed area, has also been directed to continue to treat both communities as hosts, pending when the matter is resolved.

Okere, who doubles as House Chairman on Information, explained that the House Committee on Boundary, visited the troubled area to see things for himself.

He said during the visit, members saw the boy alleged to have been abducted by Amaeze people.

The deputy speaker, however,  refused to be dragged into whether the boy was ever abducted or not, saying the police would be in a better position to answer that. According to him, what is important to his committee is that the boy was found and that peace was reigning in the area.