NBC Set to Demarcate Boundary between A’Ibom, Cross River

The federal government is poised to put a demarcation mark to finally bring to rest years of communal vendetta between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, stated this during a sensitisation campaign visit to Mbiabo Clan in Itu Local Government Area on Saturday.

The Mbiabo Clan is one of the communities in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State that had been in boundary conflict with neighbouring Ikot Offiong village in Cross River State The deputy governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Mr. Ime Ekpo, said government would not rest on its oars until all neighbouring communities live in peace. He appealed to the people of Mbiabo Clan and other boundary communities to remain calm and eschew violence.

“The boundary demarcation is not to divide communities that have been living together but for administrative purposes. You must cooperate with Government to bring peace and development to your communities,” Ekpo said.

The National Boundary Commission, he said, is about to begin the demarcation exercise which is intended to put to rest the age long boundary hostility between the people of Itu LGA, and Odukpani LGA in Cross River State.

Ekpo assured the people that government would remain firm and just in the demarcation exercise without ceding communities to one another.

The deputy governor, who is also the Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, warned youths not to allow themselves to be used by others to unleash mayhem that the boundary crisis was known for. He urged the women to advise their children to desist from acts capable of disrupting the peace during the conduct of the demarcation exercise.

Ekpo expressed government sympathy with the people of Mbaibo Clan who have been displaced from their traditional home for the last 18 years.