The Ebonyi State Government has intensified efforts to resolve land and boundary disputes across the state, warning against land grabbing, territorial encroachment and attempts to manipulate established boundaries for private interests.
The Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Nwobasi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abakaliki, saying the ministry had deployed mediation, mapping, survey plans, archival records and physical demarcation to address persistent boundary and land-related conflicts.
Nwobasi said the ministry’s mandate covered three major areas including boundary disputes, community land conflicts and leadership tussles stressing that the overarching objective was to promote peace and create an environment conducive to sustainable development.
“Whatever we do, the pendulum should be swinging around peace. If there is no peace, there will be no development,” the commissioner said.
According to him, the administration’s infrastructural, educational and other development initiatives could only be sustained in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
He said the ministry had handled several volatile boundary disputes, including the Amasiri-Oso Edda dispute, where an interim report had been submitted following extensive mapping, consultations and consideration of written memoranda from the affected communities.
Nwobasi said the area, which he described as previously volatile, had become relatively calm, enabling residents to return to their farms and other economic activities without molestation.
He added that Governor Francis Nwifuru had approved the commencement of physical boundary demarcation in the area.
The commissioner also listed other disputes handled or being addressed by the ministry, citing many communities and several inter-village and inter-family land disputes.
According to him, some of the conflicts were driven by competing demands for agricultural land, while others were linked to access to solid mineral resources.
He said the ministry had also intervened in disputes involving communities and villages, where disagreements over land ownership, family authority and the right to dispose of property had generated tension.
Nwobasi said the government would continue to rely on documentary evidence, oral testimonies, survey plans, archival materials and traditional records in determining disputed claims rather than succumb to pressure from interested parties.
“In most of these land cases, either you go to court, or you go to take the oath according to the custom or tradition of the people. If you are claiming that this is your land, there must be something that we will lay our hands on,” he said.
He disclosed that archival investigations had proved useful in resolving some disputes, saying historical documents had provided crucial evidence in determining boundaries and ownership claims.
The commissioner further warned against attempts to alter recognised boundaries for individual or sectional interests, particularly in inter-local government disputes.
He said the ministry would not manipulate boundaries, regardless of pressure, adding that disputes involving local government or state boundaries beyond the ministry’s statutory remit would be referred to the appropriate national authorities.
Nwobasi also addressed the controversy surrounding the Ezillo-Iyionu boundary dispute, explaining that the ministry was dealing with the specific boundary question presented in the petition before it.
He said some people from the Ezza community, who had reportedly fled their settlements during past hostilities, later sought to be included in the boundary process.
According to him, the matter had become subject to litigation, with the affected group seeking an order compelling the ministry to include them in the boundary proceedings.
“The case is taking place today at the High Court. Let the court take its decision,” Nwobasi said, stressing that the ministry would respect the outcome of the judicial process.
He denied allegations that officials of the ministry demanded money from communities before carrying out their duties, saying security arrangements for field operations were sometimes necessary because of the volatile nature of some disputed areas.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry often moved with personnel from the military, police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during field operations.
He also listed several ongoing boundary projects, including Abomege-Ishinkwo, Amaeze-Umuhali, Ekembe-Egumkpuma, Amasiri-Oso Edda, Ojiegbe-Isu, Mpago-Nkaleha-Umele, Ndiakpurata-Ndubia-Ndizoke and Umulele-Nkaleha-Umugudu Akpu.
Nwobasi said the Abomege-Ishinkwo demarcation project was more than 90 per cent completed before the process was disrupted by vandalism of equipment, adding that additional funding had been approved for the work to resume.
He said the ministry had also completed mapping and survey work on some disputed areas ahead of physical demarcation.
On the Umuogudu Akpu boundary, the commissioner said the government was working to replace historical boundary beacons dating back to the colonial period which had allegedly been removed.
He said the government’s interventions were aimed at preventing recurring disputes and establishing clearly identifiable boundaries that communities could rely on.
Nwobasi commended Governor Nwifuru for supporting the ministry’s peace-building efforts, describing the governor as committed to maintaining peace across the state.
He said the ministry would continue to pursue peaceful settlements through evidence-based mediation, consultation and lawful demarcation.
“We make sure that we take correct decisions. Our promise is that we will keep the flag flying," he said.
