A long-standing land dispute between the Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has resulted in over 100 deaths within the past five years, according to Onicha LGA Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogboffia.
Responding to a protest by Ishinkwo women, Ogboffia acknowledged the tragic loss of lives and called on both communities to embrace peace as the government finalizes the land demarcation process.
Ishinkwo Women Protest Alleged Bias in Land Demarcation
Over 100 women from Ishinkwo stormed the Ebonyi State Government House in Abakaliki, protesting what they termed an unjust land demarcation that favored Abaomege. Holding placards with messages such as “No justice, no peace” and “We reject demarcation without a map,” they demanded transparency in the process.
The women accused government officials of ceding parts of their ancestral land, including a primary school and military checkpoints, to Abaomege.
Petition to Governor Nwifuru
In a formal petition addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru, the women’s group, led by Mrs. Fidelia Nworie and Mrs. Magrarh Itumo, outlined their grievances and key demands:
- Demarcation Process is Flawed: The protesters claimed that the ongoing demarcation disregarded the official White Paper, which should serve as the legal framework for boundary settlement. They alleged that the process was manipulated to favor Abaomege.
- Release of the Official Survey Map: They accused Deputy Surveyor-General, Mr. Ekeroku, of withholding the official survey map required for accurate land demarcation. The women argued that this lack of transparency fueled mistrust and manipulation.
- Replacement of the Demarcation Committee Leader: The petitioners demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Ekeroku as the leader of the Demarcation Committee, citing bias and misconduct. They insisted that his replacement was necessary to restore fairness and credibility.
- Return of Ancestral Lands and Landmarks: The women called for the reversal of alleged wrongful allocations, including their primary school, historical sites, and military checkpoints, which they believe were unjustly handed over to Abaomege.
- Impartiality from the Local Government Chairman: They urged Chairman Ogboffia to remain neutral in overseeing the demarcation process, stating that his alleged favoritism had further strained relations between the two communities.
- Reconnection to the National Power Grid: As part of their demands, the women insisted that their community be reconnected to the national electricity grid, alleging that their disconnection was a deliberate act of marginalization.
Government Officials Deny Allegations
In response, both Chairman Ogboffia and Deputy Surveyor-General Ekeroku refuted the claims, maintaining that the demarcation process was aimed at restoring peace rather than favoring any community.
Despite the assurances, tensions remain high as the affected communities await government intervention to ensure a just resolution to the conflict.
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