Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo has appealed to border communities to remain calm and give the National Boundary Commission (NBC) opportunity to resolve boundary issues between Abia and Akwa Ibom.
Ekpo made the appeal during enlightenment campaign at Itu Mbonuso in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.
According to him, the appeal has become imperative following a Joint Field Tracing Exercise at the Akwa Ibom/Abia interstate boundary.
Represented by Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, the Permanent Secretary in the deputy governor’s office, Ekpo assured the communities that the boundary between the two states would be demarcated to ensure lasting peace.
The deputy governor also assured that no land belonging to Akwa Ibom would be ceded to another state.
According to him, the boundary tracing and demarcation exercise is scheduled to begin from Nov. 9 to Dec. 14.
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He solicited the cooperation of the community leaders and youths to enable the NBC team carry out a successful exercise.
Ekpo expressed optimism that it would be successful this time around, unlike 2014 when the exercise could not hold.
The Ini Local Government Council Chairman, Mr Israel Idaisin, called on the affected communities to shun all forms of violence to allow NBC carry out its duty.
Idaisin said that any attempt by the communities to disrupt the exercise might cause the NBC to withdraw from the proposed boundary tracing.
Edidem Etim Edwards, the paramount ruler in the council urged parties to say the truth during the process without which the search for peace would remain elusive.
Representatives of the border communities in the Local Government, Mr Felix Essien said that the boundary crisis had brought untold hardship and loss of human lives.
