Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogboffia, has said that over 100 people have been killed within five years in a land dispute between Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities.
He stated this while reacting to women’s protest over the land crisis which started in 1912.
He appealed to the people of the two communities to sheath their swords and embrace peace while awaiting the government’s demarcation of the land, which would bring lasting peace.
The women of Ishinkwo had besieged the state government house in Abakaliki on Monday, protesting the land grabbing from Abaomege people in government, and called for transparency in the land demarcation.
The protesters, numbering over 100, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We reject demarcation without a map, Ekeroku has violated the white paper, we reject blockage of our access road at Akpoha bridge, we want peace, but without justice, peace is impossible.”
Other placard read: “Eight swamplands are in dispute, not our ancient homes or old primary schools. Ekeroku is compromised. Change him before he causes another war. Demarcation must be according to the white paper. Is it too much to ask? We built military rundowns on our land. We won’t let Ogboffia give it to Abaomege and his people. Governor Francis Nwifuru save our land.”
The women in a statement by the National President of Ishinkwo Development Union Women wing, Mrs. Fidelia Nworie, and Secretary, Mrs. Magrarh Itumo, called for government intervention.
They said: “The demarcation is fundamentally flawed, skewed, and potential (sic) to cause a breach of the peace: We request your fatherly intervention.
“We wish to express our most profound appreciation for Your Excellency’s sincere commitment to ending the age-long dispute between us and our sister community, Abaomege. We can’t thank you enough.
“When the land demarcation began on Monday, 17th February 2025, we felt great relief, knowing that the end had come to the hitherto perennial armageddon that had characterised the dispute. Our community broke into a paroxysm of celebration and praise of your name.
“Sadly, however, Your Excellency, our joy was short-lived; it was cut short by our sad and sudden realisation that the demarcation process was without regard for the White Paper, the legal framework of the Terms of Settlement, as it were.
“We also noticed that the process was characterised by fraud and corruption and conducted in a manner calculated to favor Abaomege over our community.
“We cried to the world through the press media. However, it would seem as though no one cared about us, even as the skewed demarcation has continued without mitigation.
“This is why we are here, We are here to cry to you, believing that as a father, you will listen to our cry and save our land.
“The Survey Map, which is a critical component of the White Paper, has also been disregarded by the Deputy Surveyor-General of the State, Mr. Ekeroku.
“Despite all our entreaties, Mr. Ekeroku has blatantly refused to make the Map available to guide the demarcation, choosing instead to rely on intuition.
“Our prayer is that the survey map as captured by the White Paper be produced for both communities to eliminate doubts about the demarcation and to enable us to monitor compliance.
“We recommend that Mr. Ekeroku, the leader of the Demarcation Committee, be replaced to restore transparency, credibility, and confidence in the demarcation process.
“That our ancient buildings and landmarks, Primary School, and the location of the Military Pin-down ceded to Abaomege, possibly in error, be reversed that the Local Government Chairman be prevailed upon to be impartial in his supervision of the exercise in the future.
“That Mr. Ogbofia should advise his people to reconnect us to the National Grid if he is sincere with his gospel of peace.
“The actions of Mr. Ekeroku and Mr. Ogbofia have not only undermined the peace process but have also created an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. We request Your Excellency to intervene to reinvigorate the peacebuilding,” the women stated.
The Council Chairman, Mr. Ogboffia, and Deputy-General Surveyor, Mr. Ekeroku, denied all the allegations leveled against them by the women, saying that their aim in demarcating the land was to restore peace to the disputed land
