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The people of Azumini Ndoki, Ukwa-East LGA of Abia State, on Monday, protested against a road construction in the community, allegedly being carried out by the Akwa Ibom State government.

They alleged that the project was going on without documented evidence of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two states.

The road construction, they said, runs from Ikot Esu-Otomo in Ika LGA of Akwa-Ibom State into Uzonta road in Azumini Ndoki community, Ukwa-East LGA of Abia State.

A community leader, Ogbo Ubani, who spoke on behalf of Azumini Ndoki, accused the Akwa-Ibom State government of territory expansion and encroachment.

He declared that: “Sandwiching the name of Azumini Ndoki community in between the names of communities in Akwa-Ibom territory is clearly suggestive that Azumini Ndoki community seats within Akwa-Ibom State territory.”

Ubani said that the community was apprehensive due to the nature of their perennial boundary dispute, condemning what he called land grabbing disposition of Akwa-Ibom State.

Contributing, the President, Azumini Welfare Association, Azubuike Nwankwo, expressed worry that they may wake up one day to find out that they have been ceded into Akwa-Ibom State as an Ndoki community.

In a related development, the Secretary, Azumini Interim Administrative Committee, Fidelis Nnah, alleged that the Akwa-Ibom State government was revoking properties in the Abia State territory and paying compensation, which he said, was the sole duty of the Abia State government.

The protesters, who reiterated their support for Governor Alex Otti’s administration, called for the immediate stoppage of work in the area until Abia State enters into MoU with their Akwa-Ibom State counterpart.

Meanwhile, the Mayor, Ukwa-East, Chibunna Akara, who was represented by Secretary to the Council, Iheanyi Adindu during the protest, urged the community to remain calm and peaceful, promising to convey their messages to Governor Alex Otti for an amicable resolution.