In a bid to unravel the long-standing land dispute between Amana in Ezza South Local Government Area and Ohaukwu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the government has officially released a white paper incorporating the findings of the committee set up for this purpose.
Speaking at a press conference in Abakaliki, Jude Okpor, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, revealed that the committee’s comprehensive report pointed to the discovery of lead in commercial quantity within the area, as well as the removal of the cement boundary beacons established by the colonial masters, as the immediate and remote causes of the crisis.
Furthermore, the state government-commissioned committee has recommended the urgent reinstatement of boundary pillars as part of the strategic measures to bring an end to this prolonged crisis.
According to Okpor, the White Paper, dated November 8, 2023, and endorsed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, encapsulates the government’s unequivocal adoption of the committee’s recommendations. Additionally, the governor has issued a directive to the concerned ministries and departments for the immediate execution of these measures.
“Based on its findings, the committee has discredited the previous report of the Ebonyi State Peace Committee, which proposed the government’s acquisition of the disputed land and assets with subsequent partitioning between the conflicting communities,” explained Okpor.
He pointed out, “The committee noted that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) committee failed to consult archival evidence before arriving at its decision.”
