By Abraham Ovuoba
ABAKALIKI – The Ebonyi State Government has commenced a comprehensive field verification exercise to determine the actual boundary between the Amata Akpoha and Ezeke Amasiri communities as part of efforts to resolve the lingering land dispute in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.
The exercise, being carried out by the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, involves physical inspection, mapping and land survey to verify ownership claims and pave the way for a lasting resolution of the conflict.
Speaking after leading a government delegation to the disputed area, the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Awo Nwobasi, said the exercise was designed to establish the authenticity of claims made by both communities.
He disclosed that the first phase of the exercise had been completed in Amata Akpoha, where officials documented the community’s claims, mapped the disputed land and conducted a detailed survey.
“Today, we visited Amata Akpoha to document their claims, carry out mapping and survey the disputed land. Our next visit will be to Ezeke Amasiri, while the final phase will cover areas we could not access during previous inspections,” Nwobasi said.»
The commissioner explained that the ministry would analyse the survey findings alongside the submissions made by both communities before preparing a comprehensive report for Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for appropriate action.
According to him, the survey results would be compared with the claims presented by both parties to establish the true ownership and boundary of the disputed land.
Nwobasi reaffirmed Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to resolving communal disputes through fairness, dialogue and due process, stressing that lasting peace remains essential for sustainable development across the state.
Representatives of Amata Akpoha and Ezeke Amasiri, who participated in the verification exercise, commended the state government for adopting what they described as a transparent and impartial process.
They expressed confidence that the exercise would finally bring an end to the protracted boundary dispute and praised Governor Nwifuru for his sustained commitment to promoting peace, security and unity among communities in the state.
Security personnel drawn from various security agencies accompanied the government delegation throughout the exercise to ensure a peaceful and orderly verification process.
