Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, has appealed to warring communities in Eket, Esit Eket and Ibeno local governments to embrace peace.
Some communities in the three councils are contesting the ownership of a land.
Ebe, who visited the disputed area on Saturday, said the state government could not intervene in the dispute, especially as the matter was already in the Court of Appeal.
She said, "Until judgment is given by the Court of Appeal or a compromise reached by those involved, then will the state government be able to intervene in the matter."
Ebe, who appealed to members of the warring communities to embrace peace, urged them to await the ruling of the appellate court.
According to her, there is no community that can develop in an atmosphere of war.
On April 25, 2013, five persons lost their lives and many houses destroyed when youths from Esit Urua in Eket and Mkpanang in Ibeno LGAs clashed over the disputed land.
The Punch