The member representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante, has appealed for calm and restraint following a clash between youths of Nkoro and Asarama communities in Rivers State over a lingering land and boundary dispute.
Abiante, in a statement issued on Tuesday, expressed sadness and concern over the confrontation, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday.
He condemned violence and lawlessness, urging youths, community leaders, elders and other stakeholders in the two communities to embrace dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The federal lawmaker who is also the NDC Candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the upcoming 2027 elections said Nkoro and Asarama shared a rich history, culture and brotherhood that should not be sacrificed over disagreements concerning territorial boundaries.
According to him, violent confrontations only bring hardship, destruction and lasting divisions among communities that have coexisted peacefully for generations.
“Violence has never resolved a boundary line; it only breeds further animosity and retrogresses our collective developmental goals,” he said.
Abiante disclosed that he was engaging relevant security agencies, traditional rulers and local authorities to maintain law and order and activate appropriate mechanisms to address the underlying issues through peaceful and legal channels.
He also urged residents of both communities to refrain from circulating unverified information capable of escalating tensions and triggering further violence.
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that justice, fairness and lasting peace prevailed across the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency.
He called on the youths to resist attempts to draw them into destructive activities, urging them instead to channel their energy towards constructive dialogue and the socio-economic development of the constituency.
Abiante stressed that the relationship between the two communities should take precedence over their disagreements, noting that no land dispute was worth the loss of human lives or the endangerment of residents.
“Let us remember that we are one people, and no land dispute is worth the blood or safety of our brothers and sisters,” he said.
He urged the communities to work together to restore peace and prevent further escalation of the dispute.