LEGISREPORTS NIG - The member representing Yakurr II state constituency in the Cross River State, Hon Jones William and the leader of the Yakurr Legislative Council and councilor for Inyima ward, Hon Okorie have made passionate appeal to stakeholders and concerned individuals to show practical concern towards the people of Inyima community of Yakurr local government area of the state who were viciously attacked last month by their neighbours, the Adun community of Obubra Local Government area. They made the appeal when the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) made donations of relief materials to the Inyima community. Hon William said that the pathetic situation of the community occasioned by the invasion called for concern from every stakeholder and that peace must be sought for at all cost, so that such mindless violence and destruction of lives and properties should not reoccur. In a remark, the Yakurr Local Government Council Chairman who is also the Chairman of the Local Distribution Committee, Hon. Godwin Etta promised that the materials would be judiciously distributed but appealed for peace. Hon Okorie also appealed to the state government to handle the matter with dexterity in order to ensure justice and equity. Meanwhile, the woman leader of Inyima community, Mrs Catherine Ikoro has disclosed that her people have been living in fear of a renewed attack by their neighbours, adding that have been afraid because of the threats. She called for a proper boundary demarcation believing that it would be the best solution to the crisis. Also speaking during the donation of the relief materials, the spokesman of the community, Mr. Emmanuel Ezege recalled that it was the second time the Adun people had attacked Inyima having done so in 1989 and that the people had remained peaceful and law abiding. He appealed that a permanent boundary be established between the people of Adun and Inyima to avoid further bloodshed. It was observed that thousands of the victims of the crisis have returned to the village which lies in ruin. It was observed that between 4 to 5 families were squatting in few houses that survived last month’s invasion. At the presentation, Governor Liyel Imoke represented by the director general of the agency, Vincent Aquah, warned against mindless violence and that the government would no longer condone it. The relief materials which included mattresses, blankets, buckets, oils, rice, garri, beans, stoves, cooking pots and other sundry items were distributed at one of the surviving buildings in Inyima. He reassured that his government would use its administrative apparatus to unearth the perpetrators and the remote and immediate causes of the violence, the governor said that the materials were the first and pragmatic steps to ensuring that lasting peace returned to the area. The Governor pointed out that the acts of violence as an avenue to resolving issues was wrong and had the tendency to unwittingly drag developmental strides backward. Senator Imoke warned against any consideration for reappraisal pointing out that there will be no justification for such act as government was taking the conflict issues as a priority project. The Governor used the opportunity to warn Cross Riverians to maintain the peace at all times inspite of provocations so as not to attract the wrath of government but to apply wisdom in handling crisis.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:19:35 +0000