The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Hon. Abang Pius Besong, has called for an immediate end to the violence between communities in Boje Ward, particularly Boje and Iso-Bendeghe.
In a statement titled “A Call for Peace in Boje Ward,” Besong said Boje and Iso-Bendeghe share age-long ancestral ties and have lived together, traded, farmed, celebrated and inter-married over the years.
He said the ongoing violence and bloodshed were destroying lives, homes and properties in communities that had historically shared close relationships.
Besong said he had reached out to the Boki Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Beatrice Nyiam, the Chief Security Officer of the local government and PDP presidential candidate Senator Sandy Onor, adding that their prompt interventions, alongside those of other concerned leaders, helped to calm the situation.
He also said he had privately engaged elders, traditional leaders and youths across the affected communities, encouraging them to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue instead of violence.
The PDP candidate clarified that he does not have the direct authority to invite the Army, Police, DSS or other security agencies to conduct operations, or to issue operational orders. However, he said he could use his voice, relationships and influence to advocate for peace and would continue to do so.
Besong also called on political representatives from the Boki axis to take concrete steps towards finding a permanent solution to the recurring crisis.
According to him, the issue had previously been raised on the floor of the 9th National Assembly by Senator Sandy Onor. He said that, to the best of his knowledge, Onor remained the only political representative who had formally brought the recurring crisis before the National Assembly.
He said that if current representatives had taken similar steps and sustained the issue at the appropriate levels of government, the communities might have been closer to finding a lasting solution.
Besong urged all elected representatives representing the Boki axis to rise above political differences and take legislative, diplomatic and institutional steps to address the root causes of the crisis.
He appealed directly to the people of Iso-Bendeghe and Boje to reject anger, hatred and revenge.
“One death cannot atone for another. One burned property cannot restore another,” he said.
Besong warned that continued retaliation would only produce more widows, grieving mothers and wounded children.
He reminded the two communities of their shared history and relationships, urging them not to allow the present crisis to define their future.
The PDP candidate said he was willing to sit with traditional rulers, elders, political leaders and youths from all sides, under government or security supervision, to seek a peaceful and lasting solution.
“I choose peace. I will continue to advocate for peace. And I will never play politics with human lives,” Besong said.
He ended his appeal with a prayer for healing, restoration of peace in Boje Ward and lasting harmony between the affected communities.
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