• Calls for Independent Boundary Commission

A non-governmental organisation, the Yakurr Peace Assembly, has commended the Cross River State government for its effort at restoring peace between Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Council of the state.

In a statement on Friday signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Ubi Eyong, the group noted that the timely intervention of the state government has helped stem the tide of the crisis from escalating.

The group insisted that, “Ugep and Idomi are, to the best of our understanding, brother communities within Yakurr, tied together by blood, culture, language and history. That is what makes this conflict especially painful. In truth, there is no real divide between an Ugep person and an Idomi person.”

In pursuance of enduring peace, the group advocated for an independent boundary commission to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the conflict that has lingered for years.

This, the group said, will help to get to the roots of the conflict, provide permanent solutions to it and make way for enduring peace.

It advised that the independent boundary commission’s membership should be made up of surveyors, land historians, relevant government officials and representatives of both communities, with a clear mandate to demarcate the disputed boundary using credible historical and legal records.

It also advised the government to announce a clear public timeline for the commission’s work, so both communities know what to expect and do not see the process as open-ended or uncertain.

The statement added that at the conclusion of the assignment, the government should publish the commission’s findings and gazette the agreed boundary, so that the final decision carries legal authority and is not treated as a mere verbal understanding.

“Thereafter, government should create a joint community liaison committee, with equal representation from Ugep and Idomi, to follow up on the peace process and report early signs of tension before they grow into another crisis,” the group said.

It appealed to the government to handle the peace process with wisdom and caution, so that in trying to solve one problem, it does not create another.

“Any sharing formula or administrative arrangement being discussed in the public space should be rooted in justice, equity and fairness. It should also take proper account of previous government interventions and existing legal instruments. Only then can both parties see the peace-building process as transparent and fair,” the group noted.

It urged both communities to cooperate with the government in finding lasting resolutions and resume the cordial relationship that had existed between them for centuries.