War imminent between Akwa Ibom and Abia States as Akwa Ibom wants to forcefully annex Abia communities, lawmaker alerts

www.odogwublog.com reports that as border clashes occasioned by boundary disputes have continued to erupt between Abia and the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, the member representing Ikwuano State constituency at the Abia House of Assembly, Hon. Theophilus Ugbaja, has raised the alarm that  Akawa Ibom State "wants to forcefully annex" some Abia border communities.

The lawmaker who raised the alarm while moving a motion on a matter of urgent public importance during Tuesday plenary on the floor of the House, said a number of persons in his constituency had been displaced following incessant bloody clashes with  neigbbouring Akwa Ibom towns.

This is as the boundary dispute between Abia and Cross River has claimed many casualties in Isu community, Arochukwu Local Government Area.

 

Ugbaja regretted that a lot of border communities in Abia had come under attack by their neighbours, alleging that there is a grand plot by Akwa Ibom State to forcefully annex some border communities in Abia at all cost.

He called on Abia State Government to ensure tight security in Abia border communities to protect lives and property, and defend the locals against invaders.

The lawmaker expressed worry that most locals from border communities in the state "are now living as refugees" in their own land.

He also urged Government to make adequate provisions for the welfare of security operatives on duty in the border communities, saying that investigations had revealed that the neighbouring states curry undue  favour from the security agents by providing for their up- keep.

According to him, the security agents provide more protection for people of the neighbouring communities while looking the other way when  Abian towns are attacked. 

Contributing in the debate, member representing Umunneochi constituency, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri, called on the National Boundary Commission to urgently embark on demarcation of  boundaries in all Abia border communities.

This, he said would be the panacea to cases of incessant border clashes between Abia communities  and their neighbours.

He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), to as a matter of urgency, take care of the immediate needs of victims of border clashes in the state most of who have been dislodged from their ancestral homes.

After submissions by virtually all the lawmakers who roundly condemned the continued invasion of Abia border communities by their neighbours, the House tasked security agencies in the state to quickly rise to  the occasion.

Reading the resolution of the House, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to immediately set up security posts along all Abia border communities to avoid further bloodbaths and destruction of property.

 

The Speaker also directed the House Committee on Boundary to liaise with the police and other sister agencies to ensure full compliance and implementation of the resolution.