Stakeholders have urged the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to expedite action on the demarcation of the disputed palm plantation border between Edda (Afikpo South) in Ebonyi State and Nkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

The stakeholders who made the call during a joint Security and Peace meeting held at the Nguzu Edda headquarters of Afikpo South pointed out that only the demarcation of the border would put to rest, the perennial skirmishes between the two sister communities and enthronement sustainable peace.

They, therefore, pleaded with their state governments to pile pressure on NBC to quickly begin demarcation of the disputed palm plantation border.

At the Thursday meeting were the Chairmen of Ohafia, Chief Sampson Anaga, his Afikpo South Local Government counterpart, Barr. Eni Uduma Chima; traditional rulers from Ohafia led by their chairman, Eze Kalu K. Ogbu, royal fathers from Edda led by the Zonal chairman, Ezeogo Charles Azuenya and security chiefs of the councils.

The two council chairmen enjoined the people of Edda and Nkporo to live in peace and refrain from any acts that could lead to crises and bloodshed.

They also noted that the people have age-long blood relationship and advised them to maintain the peace.

In their remarks, the royal fathers, Èzeogo Azuenya, and Eze Ogbu, commended the local government chairmen for initiating the peace meeting which, they said, “has restored the sense of brotherly unity amongst the people.”

The monarchs advised the disputing communities to provide information in good time to the local government authorities before any harvest in the plantation to enable the council bosses to arrange for security to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The Head of Service, Ohafia local government, Dom Onwuzuruigbo, in a vote of thanks, commended Barr. Chima and officials of Afikpo South for the warm reception accorded them and praised the traditional rulers of both councils for their commitment to the peace process and promised full implementation of resolutions reached during the meeting in order to restore peace to the sister communities.

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