Taraba stakeholders want an end to boundary disputes
By Chuwang Dungs
Stakeholders in Akoforo and Mbateh communities in Kurmi local government enarea of Taraba state, has stressed the need for the people to work toward peace by ending the lingering conflicts in the area.
They also called on the government to expedite action to resolve the boundary dispute between the two communities to enhance peaceful co-existence between them.
DAYLIGHTREPORTERS gathered that the two
communities have engaged in a series of violent clashes, since the creation of Ngada Special Development Area from Kurmi, by the former governor Ishaku Dickson administration in 2016, following the alleged failure of the administration to define the boundaries.
Various stakeholders who spoke to Journalists during a visit to the area last week described the dispute as a major challenge in the locality and solicited for government intervention in bringing peace between the warring communities.
Speaking, the ward head of Akoforo, Zubairu Mairiga, who claimed that Mbateh land is under Akoforo despite the creation of the Special Development Area, wondered why those domiciling in the area have continued to pay allegiance to Ngada instead of Kurmi council.
Mairiga who noted that “the issue of taking up arms is unacceptable and it is against the law” appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas, to urgently wade into the crisis by ensuring proper demarcation between the two villages.
“I want the government to immediately intervene because if the government fails to act fast, the situation will soon get out of hand. So I am pleading with the relevant authorities to as a matter of urgency come in and resolve this issue once and for all.” Mairiga said.
Apollos Shamaki, a retired headmaster and a community leader, said the need for the government to quickly intervene in resolving the dispute cannot be overemphasised.
Displaying various letters of threats allegedly written to some stakeholders in one of the communities, he said there is the need for the government and the security operatives to arrest those instigating violence in the locality.
Shamaki, who vowed to join forces with other stakeholders to forestall further outbreak of the crisis between the two villages, said, “government must also do the needful by arresting the perpetrators of the crisis.”
Another stakeholder, who identified himself to our correspondent as Polycarp Solomon, said if not for the timely intervention of Mairiga (the village head of Akaforo) and security operatives, the recent upheaval between the two villages would have taken a different dimension.
He said if the issue of boundary demarcation in the area is not resolved the two communities will continue fighting each other, hence the need for urgent government intervention.
Collaborating the position of the stakeholders, chairman Kurmi local government area, Moses Maihankali, admitted that the wrangling “has to do with boundary demarcations.”
Maihankali, also agreed that those behind the creation of Ngada Special Development Area, failed to define the boundaries between Kurmi local government council and Ngada.
He said efforts are already in the pipeline, to address the situation.
Arguing that Mbateh used to pay revenue to Akoforo, Mr Maihankali noted that the reverse has been the case since the creation of Ngada.
He then appealed to the two villages to embrace peace as the government at all levels is working towards addressing the issue.
