By Anya C. Anya
The National Emegency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday unveiled relief materials provided for Isu Community in Arochukwu LGA which is meant to help cushion the effect of the long protracted inter communal conflict ravaging the Community and a neighboring community in Biase L.G.A of Cross River
The flag off of the Distribution of this relief Materials to this communities was necessary since lives and properties worth millions of naira have been lost to the conflict which has become a re-occuring decimal. Among the items distributed during the exercise are bags of Rice,bags of Beans, bags of garri , cartons of noodles, mattress of different sizes including buckets to mention but a few.
While addressing the press at the event , The Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representative Hon. Uko Nkole who attracted the relief materials led the NEMA delegation called on the National Boundary Commission to delineate Isu-Biase land boundary to avert further conflicts between the two communities staying close to each other.
According to Hon. Uko Nkole ” delineating the boundary between the two LGAs remains a way to find a lasting and permanent solution to the squabble,this flag off is a fallout of a motion I raised in the House of Representatives on the urgent need for President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy the Armed Forces to Isu Beach line boundary in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State to forestall further killings and restore peace and order in the area, the struggle for peace in Isu Community is on course and i am pledging to follow it to a logical conclusion.” Futhermore ” I will continue to liase with relevant bodies so as to put in place necessary steps and measures that will facilitate the process of delineating the boundaries by the National Boundary Commission.”
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The Senator Representing Abia North and Chief Whip of the Senate ,Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu who was represented at the occasion by Reverend Mrs Jemaimah Kalu assured the Community that he will liase with relevant ministries and authorities to do everything possible to find a lasting solution to the long boundary dispute between Isu in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State and Biase LGA in Cross River State
Also present during the flag off are Mr Evans Ugoh ,Head of operation Owerri NEMA office , Hon. Mike Ukoha who is the member representing Arochukwu state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and Mr Sunday Jackson who is the Secretary Abia State Emergency Management Agency among others. Mr Sunday Jackson while commending the inniative expressed “hope that the flag off of the relief assistance will mitigate the process of bringing a lasting peace in the area. Abia State is a disaster prone area we therefore plead with the Federal government to come to the rescue of the state in the midst of several predictions made regarding disaster , though we are grateful to the Director General of NEMA Muhammadu Muhammed for a job well done do far.”
Speaking during the event Hon. Mike Ukoha noted that “the Abia State House of Assembly has taken several steps towards resolving the communal clash between the two communities which include setting up a Committee and sending a delegation to Cross River State, expressing satisfaction with the synergy between the Abia House of Assembly and National Assembly in this regard.” . Mr Evans Ugoh, thanked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for attracting the flag off , according to him ” no amount of relief materials will be enough to cushion the effect of the sufferings the two communities experience during communal clash, stressing the need for the long inter communal clash to be resolved, adding that going forward,the two LGA chairmen must liase and find a lasting solution to the boundary dispute.”