The incessant violent attacks at the Eziagulu-Otu oil fields, in Anambra East local government area,
Anambra State, by the Igala people from Kogi State, have assumed worrisome dimension and now pose serious threat to the existing peace between the two neighbouring states.
Reacting to the latest invasion of the Orient Petroleum installed facilities at Eziagulu-Otu, resulting in torching of several vehicles and destruction of some structures by the armed invaders, the traditional ruler of Igbariamm, Dr Kelly N. Nkeli, beckoned on the federal government to urgently intervene in the matter.
Igwe (Dr) Nkeli urged the federal government to call the Kogi State government to order immediately to avert any such provocative cross-border incursions into the oil fields located inside thee Omambala territory of the state by the Igala people from Asonwa community.
The royal father noted that over the past centuries, since the creation of mankind, there was never land dispute between the two states, until the exploration of petroleum
deposits by the state with approval by the FG, pointing out that the seismic survey of the mineral deposits in the Omambala area was concluded before the Nigerian Civil War, hence the Kogi State government and Igala people have no right and moral justification to contest the ownership of the oil fields.
He admonished the agitating Igala land speculators to “be patient and prayerful,” realising that the exploration of the oil deposits in Omambala basin could precipitate the discovery of petroleum deposits in their own territory in due course, as the mineral deposits could spread to the neighbouring states in future.
With the successful handover of power from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to President Muhammadu Buhar of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Igwe Nkeli lauded the show of maturity and statesmanship by Jonathan which helped to douse political tension and keep the country united.
