**Border Tensions Soar as Ebonyi and Benue Communities Seek Lasting Peace** In a bid to quell the rising violence along the troubled Ebonyi-Benue border, top government officials, community leaders, and development coordinators came together for an emergency peace and security summit in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital. The high-stakes meeting, convened under the leadership of CP Adaku Uche-Anya, Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, was a response to the recent gruesome killings of at least 11 individuals in a cross-border assault linked to the long-standing Effium-Ezza crisis. The crisis, which has been simmering for a while, has led to multiple homes and properties being destroyed in what security briefings described as a coordinated incursion from the Akparata axis in Effium. While the attack occurred outside Ebonyi State's jurisdiction, it has sparked concerns about the pace of geographical demarcation of newly created autonomous communities carved from the former Effium territory. Stakeholders at the summit, including representatives from affected communities, security agencies, and state authorities, strategized on preventing retaliatory attacks, curtailing communal unrest, and stabilising the fragile border region. They emphasized the need for accelerated demarcation and enhanced policing to address the root causes of the crisis. Chief Chinedu Awo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Power and Energy, reiterated the commitment of the Ezza bloc to the government-brokered ceasefire, affirming ongoing consultations at both grassroots and leadership levels. He also called for urgent implementation of the demarcation gazette to prevent destabilizing influences from diaspora actors and misinformation on social media. The summit also highlighted the importance of institutional measures, including routine security briefings, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with the military and civil defence corps. Mr. Moses Ogalegu, Coordinator of Effium South Development Centre, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for initiating the administrative demarcation process, describing it as critical to achieving sustainable separation and long-term peace. As the situation remains fragile, stakeholders have called on the government to establish definitive timelines for the demarcation process, addressing the root causes of the crisis and ensuring the security of communities in the border region. With the peace and security summit marking a crucial step towards resolving the crisis, only time will tell if the stakeholders' recommendations will yield lasting peace and stability in the region.