The Ekiti State Government has cautioned the people of Ipoti-Ekiti, Ejiyan-Ekiti and Owatedo-Ekiti against taking any step that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, gave the warning at a meeting he held with the representatives of the communities in his office on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.
Egbeyemi warned the affected towns against taking any step or action on the land along their disputed portions of their boundaries while a proper boundary demarcation is yet to be concluded.
He said that the state government was still standing by its directive that the three towns should refrain from erecting any structure or carry out any development on their disputed boundaries until the conclusion of demarcation of the boundaries.
He urged the communities to wait for the outcome of the report of the Technical Committee of the State Boundary Commission working on the demarcation of the boundaries.
The deputy governor stressed that the state government would not hesitate to deal according to the law with any individual, group or community that foments trouble on the boundary in dispute.
Egbeyemi urged the three towns to toe the line of peace and cooperate with the state government to ensure an amicable resolution of the boundary dispute in the interest of peace and tranquility.
He said: “Our directive that no individuals, groups or towns should carry out economic or social activities along the disputed boundaries among the three towns still stands.
“Government is determined to ensure a peaceful resolution of the dispute and the Technical Committee has been given the mandate to carry out the proper demarcation of the boundaries and submit its report.
“The communities must wait for the committee to conclude its assignment. The full wrath of the law shall be visited on any individual or group in any of the towns that goes against the directive.”