Jimbo Canvasses Establishment Of Military Base To Quell Nkari Communal Crisis

ABUJA
To curb further loss of lives, properties and to end age-long disputes in Nkari communities in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Clement Jimbo, MNIQS, member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and deputy chairman, National Planning and Economic Development, recently, at plenary, called on the Federal Government to intervene in the ongoing Nkari communal crisis to restore and maintain peace in the area.
The call for Federal Government’s intervention to settle the age-long dispute that has claimed a lot of lives and properties in Nkari communities followed a motion of urgent public importance titled “Motion of Urgent Public Importance for Federal Government to wade into Communal Crisis in Nkari Clan,” sponsored by the Abak Federal lawmaker.
Calling on the Federal Government to wade into Nkari communal crisis,  Jimbo averred that if a swift action was not taken, the matter would further escalate and more lives and properties may be lost.
The federal lawmaker further stated that the crisis spanning decades has displaced the rural communities, thereby putting economic activities on hold in the area.
“Mr Speaker, Hon. Colleagues, the Nkari communal crisis has caused more harm than good, this age-long crisis spanning decades needs to be tackled immediately for peace to be restored for economic activities to thrive again in the area,” – Jimbo stated.
He further urged the House to call on the Federal Government to establish a military base in the communities to aide restoration and maintenance of peace in the area.
It would be recalled that Nkari communal crisis erupted in 2011 after a communal conflict between Ubet Okom village and Mbente village because of a portion of land estimated at almost 10 hectares. The communal crisis escalated further in 2024 following intensified attacks and counter-attacks by Ubet Okom and Mbente villages because of more disagreements and violent encounters between youths of Mbente village and Ubet Okom due to disputes attributed to the exploitation of palm fruits and thefts at that same disputed land of 2011 in which has led to abductions, slaughtering and killings of people at boundaries of the two villages.
The Akwa Ibom State government has made efforts to settle the boundary disputes since it began in 2011 in which the then state government set up a panel of enquiry to investigate and also meet with the Nkari Clan warring communities to settle the disputes.
The motion was referred to the House Committee  on Special Duties, Army and Humanitarian Affairs for further action.