Border clash: Anambra, Kogi communities sign peace deal

[Punch]

Border communities of Ezi-Agulueri Otu in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State and Echeno/Odeke in Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State have agreed to embrace peace.

The communities agreed on a cessation of hostilities until a final resolution of all the issues in their land dispute.

Stakeholders from the communities stated this in a communiqué after a meeting in Abuja.

Our correspondent obtained a copy of the communiqué on Wednesday.

The chairman of Anambra East LG, Mr.  Chinedu Obidigwe, and his Ibaji counterpart, David Ogu, led stakeholders from the communities, including traditional rulers to the peace talk.

The communiqué read, "Following the intervention of Chief Emmanuel Akubueze in conjunction with Orient Petroleum Company on the crisis between Echeno/Odeke and Aguleri communities, the following resolutions were made.

"That there should be total and immediate ceasefire between the warring communities and withdrawal of the fighting troops and their weapons from the bush.

"That the leaders of each of the communities should go back and sensitise their people on the resolution reached in Abuja meeting on or before the end of this month and that there should be an enlarged meeting of each side at their respective local governments to educate their people on the peace initiative."

Obidigwe said the success recorded at the meeting followed the peaceful disposition of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

Obidigwe, who called on the boundary adjustment commission to urgently look into the matter to avoid a recurrence of the conflict, however, thanked the council chairmen for making their people available for the talk.

The Punch