By Godwin Okeh, ABAKALIKI – The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau has restated the commitment of the federal government to end the wanton killings and destruction of lives and property resulting from the boundary dispute between Ebonyi and Cross River states, which according him cannot be taken for granted.
Prompt News Online gathered that the land dispute which ensued between the two states has resulted to the displacement of over 7000 children and women cutting across 32 communities of Ebonyi state.
Dambazau made this known while addressing stakeholders and governor of Ebonyi state David Umahi at the exco- chambers government house Abakaliki during his two-day working visit to the state.
“Mine is to ensure that we find lasting solution to the problem because this is the problem that affects the common man, affect people in the rural communities who depend on farming to survive. This is a problem that resulted to the loss of lives and destruction of properties. This is a problem that impacts on food security.
“The loss of lives and destruction of properties cannot be taken for granted. So, ours is to see how this problem could be solved because our visit is not to apportion blame but to ensure that the problem by the grace of God get solved. We cannot solve the problem unless we sit down and talk and identify all the factors in order to arrive at valid conclusion.
“We visited the IDP camp and most of them are children and women and their conditions are terribly bad. So, therefore we want to appreciate Ebonyi State for the support given by the state.
“It is the duty of government to ensure that lives of the people and their properties are well protected and their welfare is also guaranteed and that is what we are pursuing.
“Whatsoever we can do to deal with this situation, we will do it. Outside dialogue, there is issue of impunity and we cannot allow people to go freely carrying out violence against people who have no knowledge about what is happening.
He called on security agencies at all levels to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly acts are prosecuted as soon as possible.
“The police and other security Agencies must continue to do what they have been doing. I want to appreciate all the efforts of the security agencies especially the G.O.C of 82 Division. I know all the efforts he has been making and that has been attested to by both states.
“We cannot leave this to security personnel only because we don’t want a situation whereby there will be crisis, instead we need peaceful and secured environment” he stated.
Responding, the governor of Ebonyi state David Umahi, thanked the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative that is targeted towards securing the lives and properties of Ebonyians.
“The crisis as I was told is over 100 years back, and I believe that every problem comes with it seed of solutions. Leaders are appointed by God for different purposes and i believe that we leaders have been appointed to secure the lives of the defenceless women and children that are being slaughtered along those borders.
“Our confidence in this movement is that we have made so much effort to get the government of cross river to talk to us because I believe strongly that God brought me to leadership to bring peace to those areas.
“We are ready to assist the minister to do whatever thing that can bring peace .We condemn the killings and destruction of properties. we declare our readiness to work with the minister to ensure that peace and order returns to the waring zones.
“I will also want you to direct the police here in Ebonyi to liaise with the police in cross river and have a common denominator of dealing with this matter” he stated.
