The Director General of National Boundary Commission (NBC) has made case for a peaceful resolution of age long boundary dispute between Ikpanya community of Ibiono Ibom in Akwa Ibom state and Arochukwu of Abia state.
The NBC director general made the call yesterday while addressing stakeholders from Ikpanya during a sensitization campaign on the need for peaceful co-existence embarked upon by NBC in conjunction with the state boundary committee.
Speaking through his representative, Barr. Mrs Amina Adamu, the director general stated his readiness to put everything in place to ensure peace is restored to the affected communities.
Describing Akwa Ibom state as a peaceful state, Surveyor Emmanuel Bulus promised to hasten in their pursuit of peace through the ongoing sensitization campaign.
Also speaking, the clan head of Ikpanya, His royal Highness Nsobom Ekpeobong Isaac, revealed that Ikpanya is made up of seven villages, partly surrounded by water and bordered in the north by Arochukwu in Abia state has been approved and accepted as it contained in 1985 edit of boundary adjustment set up by Kaloma Ali boundary Commission in accordance with section 4 (2) of the state ( creation and transitional provision) Act 1976 aforesaid.
He appealed to NBC and the state boundary committee to install a boundary stone in line with the age long boundary between Ikpanya clan in Ibiono Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom state and Arochukwu local government area of Abia state.
In his vote of thanks, the executive chairman, Ibiono Ibom local government council, Rt. Hon. Ekopimo Polycarp Edet, thanked the team from NBC and state boundary committee for prompt intervention on the boundary dispute which has erupted the peace of the community for so long.
He pledged commitment to ascertain that peace is restored at ikpanya and the neighbouring villages.
The state boundary committee was led by the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state who was ably represented by Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko.
The vice chairman Ibiono Ibom local government council, Hon. NsikakAbasi Ukobot, head of service Ibiono Ibom Dr. Mandu Ekpenyong, the DPO Ibiono command, other security agencies, councilors, supervisor, and all stakeholders of the affected villages were present at the event.