Chairman of Be­kwarra Local Government Area in Cross River, Ushie Onyi, has said Fulani herdsmen and oth­er communal crises are the greatest security threats facing border villages in the country.
Onyi, who stated this dur­ing the inter-state border meeting between Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku and Yala local government areas of Cross River and Vandeikya, Kwande, Konshisha and Oju local government areas of Benue State in Calabar yes­terday, said it was incumbent on every member of the so­ciety to share in the role of combating the situation.
The chairman said the meeting was aimed at strengthening the relation­ship and ensuring peaceful and harmonious co-exis­tence among the border local government/communities, adding that the joint peace/security meeting among the people was imperative con­sidering the current insur­gent activities in the country.
He said: “Security chal­lenges within and outside their domain are gaining prominence by the day, es­pecially threats from Fulani herdsmen and other com­munal crises in the areas.
“It is incumbent on every member of the society to share in the role of combat­ing the situation, just as there is need for collaborative ef­forts and synergy among the chairmen, traditional rulers and the security operatives as well as youths in the border local government/communities in tackling the situations. As leaders in our respective capacities, we have our quota to contrib­ute towards national peace/unity.”
Also speaking, the para­mount ruler of Bekwara Local Government Area (LGA), Stephen Omang, ex­pressed satisfaction with the peace and security initiative.
Omang said: “This is the first experience of its kind and they re-affirmed their desire and commitment to identify and partner the new generational leaders. This is a right step in the right direc­tion.”
The monarch said if bor­der local government areas in the country would emu­late the idea, internal secu­rity would be guaranteed.
Present at the meeting were the Chairmen of Obu­du LGA (Cross River), Kon­shisha LGA and Vandiekya LGA (Benue), paramount ruler of Uti Agba, paramount ruler of Obudu, paramount ruler of Uchua Ashang, para­mount ruler of Obanliku and the paramount ruler of Van­deikya.

Fulani herdsmen, threat to peace in border communities –LG boss