Ebonyi and Cross River States have agreed to end hostilities, killings and wanton destruction of properties arising from various border disputes between the two states.
The two states also agreed to embark on construction of bridges and roads to further cement the bond of brotherhood.
The decision to end the killings was an outcome of a meeting that was convened and co-chaired by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Cross River state counterpart, Prof Ben Ayade.
The governors also resolved to end hostilities in their boundary areas.
Others that were in attendance included the deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe and traditional rulers and stakeholders from both states.
The resolution was part of a ten-point communiqué reached by the officials of Cross River and Ebonyi, made available to journalists shortly after their bilateral meeting held in Port Harcourt, River State.
To achieve this, both Governors directed the representatives of the disputed communities in attendance to return to their various communities and sensitize them on the way forward with a view to proffering solutions to the challenges at the disputed sectors.
They also resolved that both states should submit a position paper on their boundary claims, annexing relevant legal documents, maps and communiqués of previous meetings within 30 days.
As part of the communiqué, both states would carry out disarmament of the combatants and thereafter grant amnesty to those who shall willingly handover the dangerous weapons in their possessions within a period of 90 days from 7th of August 2018.
According to the communiqué; “Ebonyi state government is to construct 600 metres bridge across Oferekpe River in Ikwo axis and 500 metres bridge at Ndibe Beach in Afikpo, Afikpo north LGA. Cross River state undertook to compliment Ebonyi state by constructing 7.2km road to link up with the Federal high way coming in from Ogada in Cross River State to Oferekpe in Ebonyi state as well as 19km road linking Ndibe beach to Ugep or a 17km road linking Ndibe beach to Adim”.
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