… as communities express readiness to end boundary dispute and return of IDPs

The people of Iphuigwe in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Ukele in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, who hitherto engaged in a boundary clash, have once again resolved to give peace a chance and expressed willingness to allow displaced persons to return to their homes.

This follows another round of meeting which was held on Wednesday, 17th April, 2025 between the people of Iphuigwe and Ukele which was geared towards both the Local Government Chairman Of Yala Local Government Area and his counterpart of Izzi LGA meeting in order for the IDPs to return home.

While the Izzi Local Government Chairman, Barrister Emenike Nwakpa was represented by the Igbeagu Development Cordinator in the meeting, Comrade Obinna Nwedu, his Cross River State counterpart didn’t send any representative.

Meanwhile, the Cross River and Ebonyi Youth Peace Development Movement ably led by Barrister Pascal Nwenyi during the sensitisation meeting urged the both communities to embrace the part of peace and avoid any act or words that could further escalate the crisis.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the President of the Cross River/Ebonyi youth peace development movement, Barrister Paschal Nwenyi noted that the hope of an end to the age long crisis was visible and enjoined residents and occupants of the area to continue to toll the line of peace and called on the national boundary commission to hasten the process of creating a definite boundary between the two states to avoid further escalation of the crisis.

Barrister Nwenyi, however, frowned over the absence of the Cross River State Local Government chairman during the meeting and said the group will pay a courtesy visit to the chairman in Cross River to ascertain why he was not in attendance for the meeting.

According to him, “this is the first time we are having this type of sensitisation meeting in Mfuma here after 20 years of the crisis”.

“This meeting was scheduled for both chairmen of Izzi and Ukele to interface and see how the IDPs could return to their homes but it’s very unfortunate that the Chairman of Yala Local Government is not here in attendance or send any representative like his Izzi counterpart “.

“We will schedule a time to pay courtesy visit to him in order to know why he missed a very important meeting like this”.

In his reaction, the chairman of Izhi local government area, represented at the meeting by the coordinator of Igbeagu development center Comrade Obinna Nwedu expressed the readiness of the government to ensure that lasting peace returns to the area and urged the indigenes of Ukele to sheath their sword and embrace the part of peace despite not being present for the peace talks.

The traditional ruler of Ihigwe autonomous community Eze Clement Eze who spoke on behalf of the people expressed satisfaction at the relative peace that has returned to the area through the efforts of the institute for peace and conflict resolution and the peace development movement and also called on the national boundary commission to hasten the process of creating a visible boundary to put a permanent end to the crisis.

The negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days with the leadership of the two affected local government areas to ensure they’re committed to lasting peace in the area.