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People of Agila in Ado Local Council of Benue State and Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Council of Ebonyi State have resolved to end hostilities along their disputed boundary and pursue the restoration of peace.
They have also resolved to send a delegation to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to seek support in their resolve to build bridgesfor peace, cooperation and development.
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These formed part of the decisions over the weekend at a meeting of Agila/Ngbo Intercommunity Peace and Reconciliatory Committee in Otukpo, Benue State.
House of Representatives member for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Eze Nwachukwu Eze, who outlined the strategic action plan for the resolution of the dispute said “there is no alternative” to dialogue and peace between the two communities, as they have more to gain when they live together peacefully than when they are at war.
The meeting, which also sought the construction of a federal link road between Benue and Ebonyi states through the troubled Agila/Ngbo corridor, was attended by traditional rulers, local council chairmen of Ado and Ohaukwu, as well as religious, political, youth and community leaders from the two communities, including House of Representatives member for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Constituency, Philip Agbese.
Also in attendance were the deputy speakers of both Benue and Ebonyi Houses of Assembly, who incidentally, are from Agila and Ngbo, Lami Danladi (Agila) Chinedu Ogba (Ngbo).
Others at the meeting include coordinate chairmen of the joint Agila/Ngbo Peace Committee, Chief OtseOtokpa (Agila) and Chief Cyril Obazi (Ngbo), as well as Bishop Uba Udenyi (Agila) and Bishop Oge Vincent (Ngbo).
Agila and Ngbo communities have been locked in endless bloody boundary clashes that have claimed many lives and crippled economic activities in the areas.
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