The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO Akwa Ibom State Chapter has told a team of the National Boundary Commission who visited the State to identify all the ancestral stones, ancient boundaries and beacon stones which are the ancient boundary markers between Nkari Community in Akwa Ibom and Usaka Ukwu in Abia State.
NBC visited the State on Tuesday following the lingering boundary crises between Abia and Akwa Ibom States which had gulped many lives and destroyed properties in order to clearly demarcate the boundaries and bring a lasting solution to the crisis.
The State Chairman of CLO, Franklyn Isong who in a statement on Friday urged NBC to identify all the boundary markers between the two communities, expressed confidence that the team would be fair and transparent to all parties, stressing that CLO would follow up the process to the latter.
He said, “CLO acknowledges the arrival of NBC team in continuation of the process of resolving the age long boundary dispute between the people of Nkari in Ini LGA of Akwa Ibom State and Usaka Ukwu in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.
“In spite of apprehension and tension in both warring communities after the NBC team had gone to Obot Akara instead of the scheduled venue (Nkari), keeping the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Moses Ekpo and other stakeholders waiting at Nkari community till about 3pm when they finally arrived, CLO is optimistic and has confidence in the ability of the NBC team to be fair and transparent to all parties, as we will follow up the process to the latter.
“CLO urges the NBC team to fast track the process of field work and identifying all the ancestral stones, ancient boundaries and beacon stones which are the ancient boundary markers between the two communities of Nkari and Usaka Ukwu.
“CLO notes the commitment of the government of Akwa Ibom State in ensuring the permanent resolution of the crisis and wishes to commend the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo’s relentless efforts in this direction.
“It will be recalled that on the renewed clash between Nkari/Usaka on Friday, 22nd January 2021, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property, the CLO had visited the Nkari community in Ini, using the visit to call on the National Boundary Commission to speed up the process of boundary demarcation between both communities in order to permanently resolve the age long dispute.”
