August 03, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Prince Chima Ekuma Nkama, on Wednesday, declared as a buffer zone the disputed land that caused a crisis between the people of Amaeta and Ogiri villages in the Council.
He also urged the people of the villages to take the directive seriously and eschew violence in order not to lose out to the current State Government led by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The Council boss gave the warning during a meeting with stakeholders of Amaeta and Ogiri villages at Edda North Development Centre secretariat, Oso Edda, on Thursday, saying any native that violates the directive will be severely dealt with by security agencies.
He read the riot act to the two villages and harped on the need for them to embrace peace or face the wrath of the law.
He reiterated that the primary role of every government is the protection of lives and property, which according to him, the State Government is determined to do.
He appealed to the two neighbouring villages not to engage in a land dispute at this time, urging them to dedicate more energy and resources to farming to avoid famine in future.
He said; “Consider this opportunity given to you by the State Government to make peace; consider the people here, who had one or two official engagements today but abandoned them to be here, for this peace to reign.
“Therefore, I urge you people to embrace peace; this is not the time to fight. If you fight now instead of doing your farm work, it means famine beckons tomorrow. So, let’s embrace peace.
“By the power conferred on me as Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, where these two neighbouring villages are located, I hereby declare the land in dispute a buffer zone from now onwards.
“It means no native from either Amaeta village or Ogiri village should enter the area for farming or any other activity until further notice.
“Take this decision seriously. Don’t taste the water. Don’t try the Government. If anybody goes against this order, I will instruct the security agencies to deal with such a person. So it’s in your own best interest not to violate this directive.”
He thanked the security agencies and stakeholders for ensuring that tranquillity and orderliness reigned during the meeting.
A buffer zone is a neutral area serving to separate hostile forces or nations.
Meanwhile, the two leaders of the two warring villages have signed an undertaking to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the area.
Agreeing to sustain the peace efforts of the Local Government Chairman, they observed the two villages are brothers, stressing that nothing should cause a quarrel between them.
The undertaking, which was signed by Chief Uduma Agwu and Mr Clement Eze for Amaeta village, and Chief Ude Orji and Osuu Ama Okoro for Ogiri village, read in part: “That the two villages, henceforth, are barred from entering into the troubled portion of the land, which has been declared Buffer zone by the Executive Chairman of Edda LGA, Prince Chima Ekuma Nkama.
“That henceforth, anybody seen with armed weapons shall be apprehended and prosecuted, accordingly.
“That henceforth, we, the two villages, shall maintain adequate peace and tranquillity, failure of which shall attract arrest and prosecution.”
Recall that both Amaeta and Ogiri villages were, on Wednesday, embroiled in a crisis over disputed land.
The incident allegedly led to the burning of a car and house and left scores sustaining varying degrees of machete injuries.
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