Cross River lawmaker berates NBC over constant communal clashes with neighbours

Representative of Biase State constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Ogbor Ogbor Udop has blamed the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for recurrent communal crisis between the state and its neighbours in Ebonyi, Abia, Benue and Akwa Ibom states.

Speaking in an interview with journalists at the weekend, Udop said the lingering communal crisis with resultant loss of lives and property could be resolved if the NBC had lived up to its responsibilities.

Udop, who was speaking against the backdrop of reoccurring communal clashes between Cross River and others said, “The truth is that apart from very few intra-state cases, most of the communal crises we have had in Cross River have been inter-state between communities at the borders.

“There has been a lingering land dispute between Amagu Community in Ikwo Council Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama Community of Abi Council Area of Cross River.

“There is another one between Ikot-Offiong in Odukpani, Cross River State and Oku-Iboku in Itu Council Area of Akwa Ibom State.

“We also have the communal war between Ofonekom Community in Obubra local government area of Cross River State and Izzi in Ebonyi State, the crisis also in some Yala and Obudu communities against their neighbouring communities in other states that have claimed several lives and property.

“These recurring communal wars could be brought to an end permanently, but the NBC which should step in and simply demarcate boundaries between those communities has remained aloof. The problem in this case is NBC’s inability or refusal to demarcating the borders.

“Why are they refusing to establish the boundaries between Cross River and Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Abia, Cross River and Ebonyi, Cross River and Benue and allowing people to kill themselves over boundary disputes every year?”

He said the people of Cross River State have appealed and written to the NBC severally to demarcate the boundaries properly. For instance, between my community Erei Community and our neighbouring community in Abia, but the NBC has done nothing.