By Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi.

The Umusiome community in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State has appealed to the Federal Government to stop the alleged ongoing re-establishment of the 33 monuments that have been the subject of controversy in the boundary dispute between them and Ikenga Ogidi people, also in the Council Area. The community made the appeal through their Chairman Chief, Pius Obiogbolu, after an emergency meeting in Umusiome Nkpor  on Sunday  on the alleged ongoing reestablishment of the 33 monuments by some unknown people, without the knowledge and consent of Governor Chief Willie Obiano.    .

The Joint Field Team on Tracing and Provisional Demarcation of Umusiome Nkpor and Ikenga Ogidi Communities Boundary dispute, had after its work on the said disputed boundary, in its report submitted to the National Boundary Commission and Anambra state Government in January, 2013 made some recommendations it said are part of helping fofster lasting peace and harmony between the communities.

Remarkable deviation

The Joint Field Teams recommendations follows their observation that there were gross discrepancies in the survey plan produced and gazetted by the Anambra State Government through the coordinates submitted from the office of the Surveyor-General of Anambra state. The team also observed remarkable deviation in the actual interpretation of the Supreme Court Judgment in the Exhibit C” which gave rise to technical errors, and inappropriate demarcation of the boundary according to the Supreme Court Judgment on the matter.

It  recommended that State Government should repeal the current Anambra State Government Gazette Publication of No.7 Vol.7 dated 31st  July 1997 to give room for a new final result to be produced by the office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation. However, according to Chief Obiogbolu, “instead of state to implement the recommendation it was given since 2013, some unknown people last Wednesday commenced the reestablishment of the 33 monuments that was faulted and rejected by the National Boundary Commission, and this is heightening tension in Nkpor.

“Some buildings that have lasted for over 70 years in Umusiome Nkpor, and even the Afor Nkpor has now been marked Afor Ogidi by people who we are yet to ascertain who they are working for, under the watchful eyes of the Army, the Police and men of NSCDC, who are giving them protection.” “We have earlier raised the alarm that a particular Aide to Governor Obiano is using his powers and his friends close to the corridors of power in the state to tamper with the report of the Joint Field Team.

“We are therefore appealing to Governor Obiano, Inspector General of Police, and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Karma to give Umusiome community protection, as information reaching us revealed that an attack is being planned against us, and we do not want a repeat of what happened in 1994 between the two communities,” he said.