The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boundary dispute

  • Boundary dispute: Ebonyi council boss tasks Ortom on killings

    The Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, of Ebonyi State, Clement Omenkannaya Odah, on Thursday tasked  the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on the lingering boundary crisis between the two states. Many lives have been lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed during the crisis.

    The council boss gave the charge in Abakaliki while challenging Ortom to make good his seven- day ultimatum issued on the 10th of May to the Agila community to produce the killers of four Ngbo people on the 1st of May. Odah, who maintained that both Ortom and Ado Local Government Area chairman of Benue State have not shown genuine commitment like their Ebonyi State counterparts to ensure that peace returned to the warring communities, disclosed that he had bankrolled the logistics of several inter-state meetings held between the two council areas “But I must say that the Benue people have not tried as much as ourselves.

    There is a missing line. If the governor of Benue State had done as much as our governor has done in terms of commitment, by now,this matter would have been a foregone issue.

    “The deputy governor of Ebonyi State most of the times has visited the crisis- torn communities to ascertain for himself, assess and evaluate the level of the degree of injury inflicted on our people. The state government has been touched and their commitment to ensure that peace returned to this area is gal rring. Like I said, unfortunately, the Benue State government has not shown a lot of commitments. “Recently, we heard that the governor has given seven -day ultimatum to produce the killers of the four persons who were butchered on May 1st. We have the expectations that this ultimatum is coming in good faith.

    If it is coming in good faith, we expect the governor to go a step further. Should the Agila people fail to produce the killers of our people, we expect something more than mere rhetorics.

    “The Benue State government, if they are serious should be able to identify the Agila people who are working against the peace in this inter-state boundary areas and we expect sanctions, something beyond mere rhetorics. Seven days is counting and I believe very soon, it will be exhausted. “We are keen to see what the Benue state government will do to saboteurs and enemies of peace to Agila. The Benue State government, should tell us how faithful, how committed and how genuine it is to peace,” he challenged Ortom.

  • One person killed in Ife boundary dispute 

    One person was killed on Sunday night in a boundary dispute between Yakoyo and Moro in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State.

    The middle aged man, Olufemi Folorunso, was allegedly killed around 10.30pm by the youths of Yakoyo.

    When The Nation visited the two communities yesterday, there was tension in the area.

    At the palace of Olumoro of Moro, Oba Abidoye Oyeniyi, the residents, mainly youths, gathered to express their anger and readiness for a reprisal attack on the people of Yakoyo.

    An illustrious son of Yakoyo, General Alani Akinrinade (retd), who was former Chief of Army Staff, came to appease the people of the neighboring Moro community.

    Akinrinade, who spoke with reporters during the visit to Moro, said: “Beyond nomenclature, Yakoyo and Moro are communities of the same origin going by their historical background. The crisis started as just a small misunderstanding about where the boundaries lie, whether your house or mine is in Moro or Yakoyo.

    “You know, the modern system where people start drawing lines and putting signboards are alien to communal cohesion. To me, the crisis was absolutely unnecessary to have even resulted in altercation not to talk of going to the extent of fighting one another. Unfortunately, when you have a community with so many young people that are not busy, this is the kind of thing you experience.”

    The Olumoro also told reporters that the crisis stemmed from disagreement over boarder line between “my community here in Moro, and our neighbour, Yakoyo.”

    According to Olumoro, what aggravated the boundary dispute, which he said had been on for some years, was the exuberance of the youths, “who failed to listen when we cautioned them to remain calm.”

    In a twist, the people of Moro are accusing Akinrinade of fueling the boundary dispute.

    They alleged that he has been using his position as a retired Army General to instigate violence in the area, claiming that he always provides logistics and other support for people of Yakoyo, his hometown, against Moro community.

    At a news conference addressed at the Olumoro’s palace, the Moro Progressive Union (MPU) alleged that the skirmish started last week when some people identified to be Akinrinade’s aides were seen cleaning the name of the town from signboards erected on Moro’s land.

    The National President of Moro Progressive Union, Elder Femi Ogundele, said when the people were challenged by residents of Moro, they claimed to acting on the directive of General Akinrinade.

    He added that Akinrinade later surfaced and admitted to have instructed the people to carry out the assignment.

    “But to our utter dismay, few hours after the truce, we started hearing gunshots and before we realised what was happening, a young man had been shot dead.

    “As if that was not enough, the assailants came to the Moro’s Palace  again around 10 pm and started shooting sporadically. They eventually succeeded in breaking the palace’s gate and vandalised many cars parked  within the premises.

    “The Osun State Commissioner of Police had to come around with her men before the situation could be brought under control. It was really a nightmare for our community.”

    Ogundele, appealed to police to beef up security around the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the police were abortive.

    The GSM phone of the police spokesperson,  SP Folasade Odoro, was in switch-off mode.

  • Ekiti govt intervenes in 76-year-old boundary dispute

    •17 monarchs protest Fayose’s grading

    The Ekiti State government has intervened in the 76-year-old boundary dispute among three neighbouring communities of Ise, Orun and Emure.

    Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi spoke yesterday at a meeting with the monarchs, chiefs and leaders of the three towns in the dispute, which has been going on since 1942.

    Egbeyemi warned residents of the three communities against violence.

    The deputy governor assured them that the long-running boundary dispute would be resolved as soon as possible.

    The peace meeting followed a petition filed by the Orun community, which was accompanied by documents alleging encroachment by Ise and Emure.

    The meeting was attended by the Arinjale of Ise, Oba Adetunji Ajayi; the Elemure of Emure, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo and the Olowuro of Orun, Oba Aderounmu Adewumi.

    Egbeyemi, who expressed surprise that the boundary dispute of 1942 was allowed to fester for such a long period, promised that the government would not allow the situation to degenerate into violence.

    Describing the three neighbouring communities as brothers, the deputy governor assured them that the dispute would be amicably resolved by the Kayode Fayemi administration.

    He urged residents of the three communities to allow the government and the Boundary Commission to mediate in the matter and arrive at a solution within a reasonable time.

    Egbeyemi said: “Allowing this type of dispute to fester for too long is not good because we have eminent citizens in the three communities who are qualified to settle this matter.

    “You are too close to be fighting and this may turn your children and people against one another. That is what we want to prevent.”

    The peace meeting was adjourned till March 5 for Ise and Emure communities to present their defence and documents on the issues raised by Orun community.

    Also, Egbeyemi promised that the government would look into the case of 17 traditional rulers who were protesting against the recent grading by former administration of Ayodele Fayose.

    Presenting their petition to the deputy governor, the monarchs, who were led by the Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Adewumi, the monarchs alleged injustice in the last administration’s grading.

    The Onigogo said the 17 aggrieved monarchs were placed on Grade B during a similar grading in 1999.

    He said: “It was unjust for the last administration to upgrade some monarchs with whom they were on the same grade to Grade A.

    “We want to appeal to you because your administration has a listening ear. We want to channel our grievances to you for you to note it, and you should passionately look into it.”

     

     

     

  • Interboundary crisis: Oyo, Ogun assure of peaceful settlement

    Interboundary crisis: Oyo, Ogun assure of peaceful settlement

    The hope of amicable resolution of the interstate boundary issues and disputes between Oyo and Ogun state beckons Friday as both states have agreed to abide by whatever decision made by the boundary dispute committee.

    Rising from a meeting which lasted for about ten hours at the Oyo State House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Building, Agodi Secretariat complex, the two states among others, also agreed that the states, affected local government councils and respective traditional institutions will continue to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst the border communities pending the conclusion of actions on the interstate boundaries.

    The states also agreed to facilitate another meeting before the end of the first quarter of 2018 to finalize the demarcation and ownership of the contentious territories.

    The meeting was facilitated by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and presided over by the Director-General, NBC, who was represented by the Director, Internal Boundaries, Surv. Adamu Adaji.

    The Ogun and Oyo states delegation were led respectively by their deputy governors who also double as the Chairmen of each state boundary committees.

    While Ogun state Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Dr. Olumide Ayeni represented the deputy governor, the Oyo deputy governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo was in attendance. The Surveyor-General of the federation was also represented at the parley by the director, Internal Boundaries in the office of the Surveyor-General, Surveyor M. K Mohammed.

    The two states have been involved in inter-boundary crisis particularly at the Eruwa and Bakatari axis, with the members of the communities engaging in communal clashes.

    In his remark, the Oyo deputy Governor who noted that Oyo and Ogun states are one and same despite the administrative boundary issues regretted that the delayed conclusion of the permanent demarcation of the boundary has generated an unhealthy attention and commotion between the affected border communities. He enjoined the states to maintain the ‘status quo ante’ pending the final determination. He also pledged Oyo state’s support and cooperation with the efforts of National Boundary Commission.

    While speaking, his Ogun State counterpart commended the NBC for the prompt responses to the requests of the two states, pointing out that the boundary issues had lingered on for too long. She appealed to for more efforts in the boundary definition process, calling on the affected communities to promote peace and imbibe the spirit of brotherliness between the two states and pledge her states cooperation to the Commission.

    She also called for attention to the issues that have militated against the acceptance of the boundary in the Bakatari sector and stressed the need for the decisions to be revisited in the true spirit of peace and unity.

    Earlier, the NBC DG in an opening remark noted the need for peace and concord amongst the border communities of the two states, noting that the essence of the meeting was to address the recent complaint and work out a programme of action towards completing the demarcation of the remaining sectors of the boundary. The DG, however, stressed that the boundary in question is the administrative boundary that delimits each of the States and not traditional boundary based on ethnic groupings and appealed for the support of all the stakeholders while expressing the hope that outstanding exercises will be concluded as quickly as possible.

  • Osinbajo intervenes in three states’ boundary dispute

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday waded into the boundary demarcation dispute among Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

    Although the outcome of the mediation was not made public, the stakeholders in the states attended a meeting presided over by Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.

    The spokesman to the acting President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the meeting was “to review updates on boundary and boundary demarcation issues.”

    The governors of the states – Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Mr. Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Mr. Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) attended the meeting alongside their deputies.

    Also in attendance were officials of the National Boundary Commission led by the Director-General, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad, the clan head of Ipollo community in Cross River, Chief Stephen Odom, and senators from the states.

    NAN

     

  • Two Ekiti communities clash over boundary dispute

    Two Ekiti communities clash over boundary dispute

    The age-long boundary dispute between two neighbouring towns of Oye Ekiti and Ilupeju Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State reared its ugly head again on Saturday as youths of both towns engaged in a free for all.

    The youth were said to have used dangerous weapons on one another, with those reportedly injured taken to the hospital.

    Although the police have brought the situation under control with some arrests made, tension was still high as at the time of going to the press.

    Trouble reportedly started when some youths from Ilupeju earlier in the week allegedly encroached on a land located in Oye to clear the bush close to the house of an Oye indigene and a former Minister of Information and National Planning, Chief Ayo Ogunlade. The Ilupeju boys were also alleged to have taken measurement of the land, a development the Oye people regarded as an attempt to excise their land.  Their action elicited the anger of their Oye counterparts who accused them of undue provocation.

    But another source claim Saturday’s clash was caused by commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders in the two communities over payment of dues and rights to ply some routes. As a result of the clash, social and economic activities in the two communities thereby disrupting traffic on the Ifaki-Oye-Ikole-Omuo highway.

    Some motorists coming from Lagos, Kwara, Osun States heading for Kogi and Abuja had to turn back when some hoodlums reportedly cashed in on the crisis to unleash terror.

    Many residents who could not flee shut themselves indoors while the melee lasted, while police vehicles were seen on the streets evacuating the injured to the hospital. A Police source who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said relationship between the two communities has been frosty for many years over the boundary dispute.

    When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi,  in an SMS sent to our correspondent, said he has not been briefed of the development and promised to provide an official report as soon as it is available.

  • Court transfers boundary dispute to Ibadan

    Justice Mohammed Yinusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos has re-assigned the border dispute between two

    Southwestern states, Oyo and Osun , back to the Ibadan division of the Federal High Court.

    Oyo and Osun states are locked in a fierce battle over the ownership of a vast territory between Ogbe and Ewi streams in Iresa, a border town between the two states.

    Osun State was created out of the old Oyo State on August 27, 1991 by the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and the two states had since enmeshed in some major battles over ownership of assets and institutions.

    They were locked in prolonged battle over ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, with each of the state appointing two different Vice Chancellors to head the institution during the tenure of former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo). The two governors were members of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) then.

    But the two states, which are now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), have commenced another legal battle over the ownership of a border town.

    The plaintiffs in the renewed legal battle between the two states, filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, is Attorney General of Oyo State, Surulere Local Government area of the state, Aresa of Iresaland, Oba Jimoh Oyeyemi Oloyede and Areja of Olowosoke, Oba Yinusa Oyeniyi.

    Defendants are Attorney-General of Osun State, National Boundary Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Population Commission (NPC) and its Chairman, Attorney-General of the Federation, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone XI and Olorunda Local Government area of Osun State.

    They also included Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Olufon of Ifon in Orolu Local Government area of Osun State, Oba Almaroof Adekunle Magbagbeola and the Alie of Ilie, Oba Kareem Olagunsoye Siyanbola.

    In an a affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by one Abidoye Oloyede, the secretary to Oba Oba Oloyede, it averred that on March 27, this year, the people of Iresa were surprised to hear a shocking news from the OSBC announcing that the territory in dispute had been merged with Osun State in the absence of any directive to that effect either from the court or the Boundary Commission.

    Contrary to the announcement, Oloyede recalled that the Iresa monarch acquired the territory in dispute as first settler and provincial head of Ibolo province of the old Oyo Empire, and thus answerable only to the Alafin of Oyo.

    The deponent averred that: “As head chief of the province, the first plaintiff (Iresa monarch) raised an army of his own, known as Ogo wewe (battalion of youths) against the Fulani invaders when it appeared to him that neither the Oyo Empire field marshal (Afonja), nor his deputy, Bale Ogbomoso, Toyeje (Areona kakanfo and his Otun respectively) was willing to fight the invaders.

    “As soon as the Aresa’s battalion was beaten back by the invaders, the Iresa population panicked abd deserted the town in fear of invasion and devastation. The population ran for refuge in Osogbo, Ede, Iwo, Ibadan, Igbope (Igboho), Ogbomoso, Igbaja, Ikirun, Iragbiji and so on.”

    Besides, the deponent added that: “As soon as land-hungery neighbors saw the predicament and despair of Iresa, they swarmed upon her diminished population, claiming parts of her land for themselves, hence the various litigations.

    “All the land-grabbers were beaten back and successive Aresas kept Iresaland with them irrespective of which Local Government or State they found themselves”