Hon. Oseloka H. Obaze, Secretary to State Government (SSG) of Anambra, has declared that there is no cause for alarm with regard to the boundary dispute involving the south-eastern state and its north-central neighbour, Kogi.

Obaze, who spoke yesterday in the state capital Awka, reassured Anambra people that the state government is on top of the situation and has not been indifferent to the plight of Aguleri people as some people have suggested.

Aguleri people have lately cried out over alleged attacks by their Kogi neighbours who are laying claim to their oil wells.

“The Governments of Kogi and Anambra remain constructively engaged with a view to solving this inter-communal crisis,” Hon. Obaze said. “Every conflict resolution effort is being made. His Excellency Gov. Peter Obi and Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi are in direct contact on the matter; so too our two deputy governors, H. E. Emeka Sibeudu and Deputy Gov. Yomi Awoniyi. The heads of the security agencies on both sides of the border have established operational contacts.”

According to the SSG: “Our role as a responsible state government is to sue for peace and to urge restraint. We are therefore concerned about the security of lives and property of Nigerians, be they from Anambra or Kogi. There has been a combined police, army and navy presence in the vicinity since the onset of the crisis. One could not have asked for more without the risk of militarising the area.”

Obaze (shown in photo) described as “misplaced” the impression in some circles that the state government is not doing enough on the issue.

“I am aware of the perception that Anambra State is not doing enough,” he said, adding: “That notion is misplaced. It is rather unfortunate that some recalcitrant youths on both sides elected to resort to violence and retaliatory measures. Our behind-the-scene peace and containment efforts are ongoing and are not played out on the newspaper pages. But I must add, however, that I find it disconcerting and indeed outrageous that certain media houses have chosen to escalate casualty and damage figures for the sake of selling their newspapers.”

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