Tension over Abia, Akwa Ibom border dispute as FG calls for peace

A fresh wave of bloodshed has erupted between communities in Akwa Ibom and Abia States, reigniting a border dispute that has claimed lives and fractured long-standing relationships.

Addressing the National Boundary Commission’s (NBC) stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Akwa Ibom’s Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi revealed the grim state of escalating hostilities along the disputed borders.

According to Eyakenyi, residents of Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom have faced attacks, abductions, and encroachments from neighbouring communities in Abia State, with the tragic loss of lives in recent weeks.

She underscored the urgent need for peace but warned that Akwa Ibom state would not permit further encroachment on its territory, adding that there was no need for loss of lives over land.

Abia’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, on his part, expressed regret over the longstanding crisis and the resources it has drained, noting that “doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is odd.”

He attributed the lack of resolution to insufficient political backing while reaffirming Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s commitment to ending the dispute to foster a better business climate in the region.

Emetu conveyed the commitment of the Abia State government to finally resolve the longstanding dispute, which he described as a “cankerworm” that has drained resources and disrupted peace in the region.

According to Emetu, the boundary demarcation efforts date back to an agreement between the two states in 2001-2002, during which preliminary demarcation work commenced in 2004 and concluded in 2005.

However, said technical challenges persisted, as recent examinations by experts revealed missing field records on the official geo-referenced map. This issue he said has hindered further progress, with Abia officials urging the Surveyor General’s office and the NBC to expedite the recovery of crucial documents, including the original field maps and a survey of the Arochukwu Cocoa Estate dating back to 1964.

In his address, the Deputy Governor expressed concern over ongoing skirmishes between border communities, urging the NBC to differentiate between genuine boundary disputes and cases where communities seek boundary adjustments.

Specifically, he highlighted the six autonomous communities in Itumbauzo and Akirikaobu in Abia State, which have reportedly faced pressure to integrate with Akwa Ibom State despite historically belonging to Abia.

“Since the inception of the Abia/Akwa Ibom interstate border disputes, Akwa Ibom State has been unable to provide authentic documents proving these areas were ever under its administration,” Emetu asserted.

He emphasized that past verification exercises in 2001 and 2002 had affirmed Abia’s claims, especially in sectors that have become volatile due to political tensions in the region.

Calling for a definitive stance from the NBC, Emetu urged the commission to issue a statement clarifying the boundary sectors in line with the Nigerian constitution.

He expressed hope that such action would quell unrest and facilitate the peaceful resolution of remaining farmland disputes.

NBC Director-General, Surveyor Adamu A. Adaji, called on both states to exercise restraint. “We must not let boundary lines become the grounds for senseless violence,” he stated, emphasising the toll the conflict has taken on both sides.

In his welcome address, Adaji stated that the meeting aimed to exchange ideas, find lasting solutions, and develop effective strategies to resolve the boundary issues.

He noted that in the past the commission has initiated moves to end the boundary dispute between Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

He therefore called for a proper understanding of the efforts and initiatives of the commission.