By CHARLES IWUOHA

The chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prince Ikechukwu Odono, has affirmed that there was no more war or destruction of lives and property between the two communities of Agila and Ngbo communities.

It was gathered that the inter-state communal clashes between the Agila community in Ado local government area of Benue state and Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has lasted for over one hundred years, resulting in the killing of unconfirmed number people and property worth billions of naira destroyed.

Odono who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday at the New Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, said the two inter-state communities were now peaceful and calm.

According to him, “We have made so much efforts to ensure that the age-long boundary disputes between Ngbo in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and Agila in Ado LGA of Benue State is resolved. We are making great efforts to bring peace and order to the two warring communities.

“We set up a border peace committee headed by the Commissioner of Capital City Development, Mr. Sunday Inyima, to look into the issue and I can assure you that there have been no killings, shooting in the boundary disputed areas.

“Today, in Ohaukwu LGA, we have taken back up to five indigenes of Agila people in Ado LGA of Benue State who missed their way into Ngbo community. Our warriors saw them and called me, the chairman, and then, we brought them to the security agencies. After then, we called the Agila people to come and we handed over their people to them.

“Likewise, Ado LGA are cooperating because, of recent, they also called us because one woman from Ngbo missed her way into Agila community and we went there and brought her back.

“Also, recently, the Fulani herdsmen kidnaped one of our brothers from Ngbo and led him into Benue Bush. When I got the information, I quickly intervened by calling their youths and some of their stakeholders, I tell you, at the end of the day, the kidnaped person was released and brought back to Ngbo.

“We pray and hope that the age-long fight between the two warring communities of Agila and Ngbo is coming to an end. There is no shooting or killings anymore. We believe that very soon the people of Agila in Ado LGA will come and we will seal the relationship. We have been talking to them and they are willing to come so that we seal the relationship.

“Before now, we use to inter-marry and they use to come to Okwo-ngbo market to do business and so, this is the relationship we want to bring back so that we continue to inter-marry and live in peace with each other,” he stated.

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