By UKA NWAFOR, Abakaliki –
A group of suspected hoodlums has burnt an excavator on the site of boundary demarcation between the Abaomege and Ishinkwo communities in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Chairman of Onicha Local Government, Hon Ikechukwu Ogbofia, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer, Omekannaya Orogwu, confirmed the incident.
He condemned the act outright and described it as an act of sabotage to the state government who has been working assiduously to restore peace in the area.
“No amount of threat or sabotage will stop the ongoing demarcation of the communities. To us as a government, this process will bring a permanent solution to the age-old conflict.” The Council Chairman stated.
Hon Ogbofia also noted that one of the communities had issued a threat a week earlier, warning that they would destroy equipment if the demarcation did not align with their expectations.
The council chairman aligning with the decision of the state government who had made series of consultations and findings through several reports submitted by committees vowed to intensify the demarcation efforts and urged both communities to embrace peace in line with the decision of the state government.
One of the workers on the demarcation site, Mr Chidiebere Nwankwo, explained that the excavator had malfunctioned on Monday, May 19, 2025, which made its removal from the site impossible. It was subsequently set ablaze at night, even as arrangements for repairs were underway.
The two communities have been in conflict since 1912 over fertile land, resulting in loss of many lives and destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
It would be recalled that the governor of the state Francis Nwifuru constituted a committee to resolve the crisis. After careful considerations on the findings and recommendations of this committee, the state government made a decision and issued a white paper recommending demarcation as a permanent solution.
