Enugu State Government Dismisses Claims of Ceding Ette Border Community to Kogi
The Enugu State Government has refuted circulating reports claiming that Ette, a border community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, has been administratively ceded to neighbouring Kogi State. The government described the report as fake news and urged residents to remain calm and disregard the claims, assuring them that no such decision has been made by the appropriate authorities.
In an official statement released on Friday, the Secretary of the Enugu State Boundary Committee, Dr. Solomon Ejim, clarified that the National Boundary Commission (NBC) has not issued any report or resolution concerning the long-standing boundary dispute between Enugu and Kogi states. According to him, the viral report suggesting that Ette had been transferred to Kogi State did not originate from the NBC and should be treated as false.
Dr. Ejim stated that the attention of the Enugu State Government was drawn to what he described as a misleading online publication alleging that the NBC had resolved the interstate boundary issue in favour of Kogi State. He emphasized that the claim was entirely untrue and lacked any official backing or documentation from the Commission.
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To further dispel doubts, the Enugu State Government said it directly contacted the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, who categorically denied the report and disowned it in its entirety. According to the government, the NBC confirmed that it has not concluded deliberations on the Enugu–Kogi boundary matter and has not released any decision affecting Ette or any other community.
The state government reassured the people of Ette, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, and Enugu State as a whole that their territorial integrity remains intact. Residents were advised not to panic or engage in actions that could heighten tension, as no administrative or legal changes have occurred regarding the disputed boundary.
“The people of Igbo-Eze North LGA and Enugu State in general are hereby enjoined to ignore this fake report and continue with their lawful activities,” the statement noted. It further warned that such misinformation could fuel unnecessary anxiety and potentially trigger communal tension if left unchecked.
Boundary disputes are a sensitive issue in many parts of Nigeria, often rooted in historical claims, colonial-era demarcations, and administrative ambiguities. As a result, the Enugu State Government stressed the importance of relying solely on official communication from recognized institutions such as the National Boundary Commission when issues of this nature arise.
The government also reiterated its commitment to due process and peaceful resolution of boundary matters through lawful and institutional mechanisms. It assured citizens that any eventual decision by the NBC would be formally communicated to the public through proper channels and not through unverified online sources.
Reactions to the report and its subsequent denial have been mixed, with some residents expressing relief at the clarification, while others voiced concerns about the potential for misinformation to spark unrest in border communities. Community members from Ette have also reaffirmed their historical and administrative ties to Enugu State, emphasizing their desire for peace and stability.
The Enugu State Government concluded by calling on the public to remain vigilant against false information, particularly on sensitive issues such as land ownership and state boundaries. It urged media practitioners and social media users to verify information before sharing, warning that the spread of fake news undermines public trust and social harmony.