Chairman of Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Isreal Idaisin has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the protracted Nkari boundary crisis, as members of the communities now move about with weapons.
Idaisin said that the age-long attack on the people of Nkari community by the neighbouring Usaka Uko Community in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State has over the years conditioned the minds of the people to resort to self help.
In an interview with newsmen in Uyo yesterday, the chairman lamented that women and children from Nkari Community now go to farm with either short or long riffles to protect themselves.
He cautioned both Federal and State governments that the situation, if not nibbled in the bud would breed a future generation of bandits who could become thorns in the flesh of government.
“The daily crisis we have in Ini Local government area is the Nkari crisis. The people there, including women and children now go about with weapons to protect themselves. Everyone there is either with a long or short riffle to protect themselves from the Ikwanno people.
“The people of Ikwanno in Abia State usually stay in the bush, using gorilla warfare’s approach to ambush, shoot and kill our people.
“That is why we are appealing to the Federal government to take over the disputed land or do proper demarcation to forestall further loss of lives. Thousands of people have over the years lost their lives to this same crisis”. He explained.
Idaisin, in the alternative also suggested to the Akwa Ibom and Abia State governments to come together to facilitate the demarcation and also seek possible ways to rehabilitate members of the affected communities whom he said have become wild and untamed.
“Their way of life is no longer normal. If something drastic is not done to arrest the situation and rehabilitate the people, we may be breeding a generation of future bandits and government may not be able to penetrate that area if something is not done fast.” He warned.
