The Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Yala LGA , Mrs Cecilia Ogah has intervened in the protracted communal land crisis between the people of Igbo Wanibolor community of Wanihem in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State and the Igede people of Ikwata in Oju LGA of Benue State.
This is following a clash which occurred between the two communities leading to the arrest and detention of about 42 young men from Wanibolor recently.
The Wanibolor youth had gone to stop the construction of a building in the disputed area being built by the Igede people in Oju LGA of Benue State, resulting to a friction between the two communities which led to their arrest and subsequent detention.
The incident prompted the swift intervention of Yala HOLGA, Mrs Cecilia Ogah who mobilized the Divisional Police officer (DPO), Yala LGA, SP Paulinus Inah, the Clan Head of Wanibolor, Ubet Ignatius Olem and other council staff to meet her counterpart from Oju LGA, Mrs Ire Arobi, the DPO Mr Ali Moses and other critical stakeholders on a fact finding mission.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mrs Ogah decried the ugly situation while saying that the fact-finding mission was geared towards proffering a permanent solution to the crisis and to make recommendations that would ensure lasting solutions to the impasse.
Ogah said, “The Cross River State government is committed to ensuring peace and security of all Cross Riverians, and it is the duty and responsibility of the government to protect lives and property.”
The high point of the proactive meeting which yielded mutually positive result led to the release of the apprehended Wanibolor youth. A new date which will be communicated to all will be fixed for the Stakeholders to meet and reexamine the remote cause of the conflict.
