ASABA: Delta state communities sharing boundaries with Edo state had raised alarm over a new wave of encroachment into their farm lands from the neighbouring state, and called on the state government to intervene urgently before it degenerates into any form of crises between the two states.
Requesting for an urgent attention from the state government, the National Boundary Commission, the leaders of the affected communities in Ukwuani Local Government bared their mind when they visited the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, on Monday, December 9, 2019 in Asaba.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Mr. Charles Imala, while giving the historical perspective of the area, stated that the communities in Edo State had contracted their own part of the lands to a company to replant economic trees, which had encroached in their own part of the disputed area. According to him, from investigation, the plan of the Edo communities, and the company, is to push the boundary, between the two states to the bank of the Ethiope River, which they stated will not be possible, as the boundary between the communities had never been determined by the river, even when the two states was in the old Bendel.
The community leaders stated that a letter to that effect had been written, and the various government departments, and agencies, which also included the Delta State Government, Delta State House of Assembly to urgently look into the boundary issue to avoid breakdown of law and order within the areas, as they claimed part of their farm lands had been taken away by the encroachment.
Responding to the delegates, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor thank the delegates for following the part of peace by first bringing the issue to the notice of the government, and promised to ensure that peace is achieved, through dialogue, which is the best way to achieve peace and proper economic development.
Leading the delegate was one time State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Eric Anigala.
