Reps proffer solution to Benue-Ebonyi boundary dispute

The House of Representatives has urged the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to identify and demarcate the boundary between the Agila community in Ado(Benue), and Ngbo in Ohaukwu (Ebonyi) to end clashes between the two communities.

 Francis Agbo brought a motion on the matter Thursday, and said the conflict has been on for the past 33 years, with hundreds of lives already lost.

The House also urged the Benue and Ebonyi state governments to jointly construct a road linking the two communities or prevail on the federal government to link the  Otukpo-Utonkon- Igumale-Agila  road to Ekwassi Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government  in Ebonyi state.

The two state governments have further been urged to intensify peace efforts in the area.

Agbo said, “These measures, if implemented, will minimise the boundary crisis. But what would restore peace to the warring communities and states is the sheer will power to forgive each other. To this end, the two states should mandate the communities to undertake and  supervise the confidence building gestures, such as reciprocal visits to each other’s festivals, celebrations and markets.”

He recalled that “these protracted boundary disputes were initially resolved in 1986, when Ebonyi state was yet to be created as Ngbo community was then in Anambra state. The military governors of both Anambra and Benue states created a buffer zone to be managed by the two states through a technical committee pending the final resolution of the boundary dispute.”

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