The Chairman of Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prince Chima Ekuma on Thursday read the riot act to two villages in the council- Amaeta and Ogiri.
DAILY POST reports that the two villages have been involved in intractable communal clashes.
Ekuma, however, declared a buffer zone, the disputed land behind the crisis between the people of Amaeta and Ogiri villages.
The Chairman gave the warning while addressing the stakeholders of Amaeta and Ogiri villages during a meeting at Edda North Development Centre secretariat, Oso Edda, on Thursday.
He further warned that any native that violated the directive would be severely dealt with by security agencies.
According to him: “By the power conferred on me as Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, where these two neighbouring villages are located, I hereby declare the land in dispute a buffer zone, from now onwards.
“It means no native from either Amaeta village or Ogiri village should enter into the area, for farming or any other activity until further notice.
“Take this decision very seriously. Don’t taste the waters. Don’t try the government. If anybody goes against this order, I will instruct the security agencies to deal with such a person. It’s in your own best interest not to violate this directive,” he stated.
Meanwhile, leaders of the two ‘warring’ villages have signed an undertaking to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the area.
The undertaking was signed by Chief Uduma Agwu and Mr Clement Eze for Amaeta village, as well as Chief Ude Orji and Osuu Ama Okoro for Ogiri village.
