Abia state government has called on people of Amaege, Okoko Item community and their Umuenyere Alayi counterpart both in Bende local government to allow brotherhood love over shadow the struggle over ownership of land dispute.
Abia state deputy governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu who made the plea in his office during parley conveyed to resolve brewing land dispute between the two communities wondered why they should allow land to tear them apart and be at dagger drawn. Sir Oko Chukwu said that there was no difference between an Alayi and Item man in terms of language and culture and reminded them that they would one day abandoned the land they want to kill each other in order to possess the land which was there before their birth.
He said that God didn’t make a mistake in creating and putting them in their present domains and didn’t put beacons in their boundaries therefore no life should be sacrifice over land tussles.
The deputy governor assured both parties that the state boundary committee would ensure peaceful resolution of the issue as the state government was committed to ensure that all boundary disputes in the state do not escalate to communal clashes that would lead to lose of lives and cause refugee crisis. He appealed that the Alayi people be given more time as requested to present documents of court judgement in their favour in the land dispute for final and amicable resolution.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Boundary Matters and Conflict Resolution, Mr Mascot Obike Imo said that the meeting was conveyed following a petition by the Okoko Item community against their Alayi neighbour to avert blood shed and to find a lasting solution to the dispute.
In their submissions, Chief Francis Okereke and Chief Rex Uko of Okoko Item said that they were surprised by the action of their Alayi brothers to challenge their ownership of the land and appealed to government to warned them against encroaching in the land which they presented a survey plan to prove ownership.
But their Alayi counterpart through Chief Fransic Uko and Mr Gabriel Eke said that they were not aware of the purpose of the meeting as they have a Supreme Court judgment delivered 15years ago which ended in their favour and for time to enable them come up with the necessary documents and the judgment.
