The Ebonyi government on Thursday accused its Cross River counterpart of stalling the peace process in their disputed border area between Ochienyim in Ikwo and Adadama in Abi council areas.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Dave Umahi, told newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday that the attitude of the Cross River government gave rise to renewed hostilities in the area.

He said the state government made several efforts to resolve the crisis in the affected communities, but regretted that Cross River was not doing much to end the hostilities.

He said the land boundary dispute between the two states dated as far back as 1927 and had been causing crisis in the area.

Umahi called on the National Boundary Commission to initiate a meeting of the two states, to holistically discuss and resolve the issue to avoid escalation of the dispute.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the recent crisis started on Jan. 14, when it was alleged that unknown persons invaded Ochuenyim in Ebonyi and abducted two natives and wounded others.