One beheaded as Abia, Akwa Ibom border crises escalate

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One beheaded as Abia, Akwa Ibom border crises escalate

A 47-year-old man simply identified as Ukaikpe has been beheaded in Ugbo community, Arochukwu local government area by gangs from neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom State.

Over 15 others were equally abducted during the attack which lasted for over four hours.

The killing and the destruction of properties worth hundreds of millions followed an escalation of border crisis between neighbouring communities living at the borders of Abia and Akwa Ibom.

Mike Onyekwere Ukoha, Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency in the state assembly said the reoccurring security breach in Arochukwu is worrisome.

He explained that on Saturday, 13th March 2021, his people were attacked by their neighbors from Igbanja in Akwa Ibom State, which led to the beheading of an Arochukwu man by the invading marauders.

Ukoha while speaking on the floor of the assembly on Tuesday described the situation as “unimaginable in this 21st century”.

Ukoha urged the House to assist his Constituents by calling on the Members of the National Boundary Commission to intervene in the lingering crisis.

He suggested that the Commission should invite all parties to the crisis including neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to find a lasting solution to the issue.

Speaking on the incident, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji expressed sadness over the gruesome murder of Abians by elements from their sister states due to boundary disputes.

Also Read: 28 of my constituents killed in border dispute clash with Akwa Ibom communities – Abia Lawmaker

“We have been having skirmishes and serious border crises; last week, it was the massacre of Abians in Ikwuano, today it is a beheading of an Abian in Arochukwu.

“I don’t hear this Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as to any Akwa Ibom Indigene being killed by Abians. It is only a one-sided intervention that we are here considering possible solutions to our people being killed.

“Such development can only signify one thing: that we are a peace-loving people.

“We are calling on the National Boundary Commission as a matter of urgency to come into the State to sort out these skirmishes that are needlessly claiming the lives of our people”, he said.

“They should not wait till when there is a full-blown war between these communities before they mobilize and perform their constitutional responsibility”, the Speaker admonished.

Orji said many communities in the State have been negatively affected by similar border crises.

“This is not acceptable to the Abia State House of Assembly because we do not want to start preaching self-defence because when you do that it might get out of hand, it might lead to breaking down of law and order and lives will be lost.

“So, we will continue to use the right means to call on the Federal Government, the National Boundary Commission and all other relevant agencies, to as a matter of urgency come in and sort this boundary disputes out before they degenerate further.

“That Abia State is not retaliating does not mean that our people are cowards or not able to defend themselves.

“The National Boundary Commission should call a joint meeting of the affected states; we also call on the Deputy Governor who is in charge of Boundary matters in the State to continue to reach out to his colleagues in the other states so that lasting peace will be achieved.