3 persons missing in Abia, Cross River boundary dispute

 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

Three persons have been declared missing following an attack over a boundary dispute between the Ndi Isu community in the Arochukwu council area of Abia State and her Mbiabong Ukwa neighbours in Odukpani council of Cross River State.

Vanguard gathered that the incident which occured on January 3, erupted over the Okpa Isu pond, a fishing area belonging to the Isu community.

Following the attack, three indigenes of the Isu community have been declared missing.

The President General of the Isu Progressive Union, Engr. Amarachi Kalu, decried the incessant encroachment on Isu land by the Ukwa Mbiabong people and urged the state and federal government to delineate the boundary between Isu and Mbiabong Ukwa.

The President General lamented that the recurring attacks have led to the displacement of many Isu residents since 2018.

He said;”These invasions have caused immense suffering for our people. The attack on our fishermen at Okpa Isu Pond is the latest in a series of aggressions. We are calling on the state and federal governments to intervene urgently and address this crisis before it spirals further out of control.”

Other residents of the Isu community said they fear further attacks on their community, such as kidnapping and burning of their houses by their Cross River neighbours and urged authorities to provide adequate security to protect them.

“We are afraid of more attacks and encroachment on Isu lands by the Ukwa Mbiambong people. They encroach on our farmlands and burn our houses. Isu people are being displaced and living in IDP camps. We lost over 20 people in separate attacks since it began.
Now, they have attacked us in our fishing area, three persons are already missing. It may be more, but we are still searching for our people. The government should think out a permanent solution to this aggression on Isu people on her land.”

Police Public Relations Officer, Abia Police Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka, was yet to respond to a text message on her mobile number at the time of filing this report.

However, Governor Alex Otti, has expressed optimism that the lingering boundary dispute between the Isu community in Arochukwu council and her neighbours in Cross River state would soon be resolved.

Otti had during his monthly media chat with journalists in Umuahia, acknowledged the challenges posed by the dispute but assured that efforts were being made to find lasting peace.

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