Kogi State government

has banned all forms of mining activities in the disputed areas between Egbe and Akumarun communities, comprising Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu Esan.

A statement issued in Lokoja last Saturday quoted the State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, as giving the order when he met with the leaders of the affected communities in his office late Friday.

The statement signed by Mr Mike Abu, Special Assistant on Media to Awoniyi said that any violation of the order would be met with the full weight of the law.

According to the deputy-governor, the order will be in force until the land dispute between the communities is resolved.

He charged the leaders and youths of the warring communities to give their full cooperation and support to the peace initiative.

Our correspodnent reports that one person was killed and property worth millions of naira were damaged when the people of Egbe and Akumarun communities engaged each other in a bloody land dispute on March 15.

The disputed land is said to be rich in mineral deposits.

Awoniyi, who is also the Chairman of the state Boundary Committee, said that government had decided to set up a public enquiry to fish out those behind the violence, saying that no arson and violence would be allowed in any part of the state.

He announced the resolve of the government to find a lasting solution to the problem and told the leaders of the warring communities to be prepared for reconciliation through dialogue and sacrifices.

The deputy-governor said that security agents had been ordered to provide maximum security in the disputed area, pointing out that only farmers and school children were free to operate on the land for now.

The Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Kayode Owa and the spokesman of the Akumarun communities, Chief Omotayo Ajayi praised the government initiative to resolve the age-long dispute and expressed their readiness to cooperate.

Also, the state government has raised a team of surveyors and traditional rulers to properly demarcate the boundary between Iyamoye and Ekinrin-Adde towns in Ijumu Local Government area of the state.

The decision to demarcate the boundary dispute followed a petition by the Tegba family of Iyamoye, calling on the state government to properly demarcate the boundary between the two communities to reflect the May 7, 1996 Supreme Court ruling on the land dispute between them.

The demarcation, which would be carried out in collaboration with the Ijumu Local Government Boundary Committee, would start mid April and last for six weeks.