A peace agreement was struck by the residents of Abomege and Ishinkwor, two communities in Ebonyi State’s Onicha local government area, to put an end to the long-running land dispute that has resulted in multiple fatalities and property damage.
Leaders of both groups praised State Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru for bringing them together at the ceremony, which was conducted in the old Government House, EXCO chamber, Abakaliki, over the weekend.
His Royal Highness Eze, Josephat Nnanna Ikegwu (Obinire 1 of Ishinkwor), a stakeholder from the Ishinkwor community, thanked the government of Ebonyi State for forming the peace committee and her Abomege counterpart for agreeing to follow the instruction, pledging that his people would follow the new resolution.
Chief Augustine Nwangele, the traditional prime minister of the Abomege village, echoed his Ishinkwor counterpart by calling the peace deal a great gift and promising the committee that neither party would break it.
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Honourable Ogbofia Ikechukwu, the governor’s special assistant on youth mobilisation, said that the communal crisis had persisted for more than a century and expressed gratitude to Governor Francis Nwifuru for restoring peace to the region.
Additionally, Abomege-born Hon. Nnanna Nwangene, Special Assistant to the Governor on Airport Security, praised the Abomege community and its stakeholders for coming together through the peace deal and urged the youth to support the initiative.
“We are grateful to His Excellency the governor, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for bringing peace through the peace committee.
“Our people have lost a lot of lives and property through this fight and that has contributed to poor development in both communities.
“I’m appealing to our youth to embrace the peace accord as our communities cannot develop in atmosphere of rancour and bitterness,” he said.
In the meantime, Hon. Chika Nwangene, Itumo Joseph, Alozie John, and the Coordinator of the Ukaba Development Centre saw the peace deal.
