By Egbe Attah, Otukpo
The Special Adviser to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Bureau for Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr Ken Achabo and Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Mr George Alli; his Gwer West counterpart, Mrs Grace Igbabon, recently paid an assessment visit to the scenes of Tuesday communal crises between Opa community in Adoka and Jor community in Naka, and sued for peaceful co-existence.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Gender Affairs to the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Desmond O’ogwu and made available to The Voice said Barr Achabo, while responding to briefing from the military personnel deployed to maintain law and order in the area, said Governor Ortom is worried about the crises.
It sated that there is a need for leaders and youths of both communities to live peacefully among themselves instead of fighting one another in the face of recurrent aggression against Benue people by external forces.
It further maintained that Barr Achabo, thanked and commended the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Mr Alli and Mrs Igbabon of Gwer West and the traditional rulers from the affected communities for closing ranks in ensuring that the situation is quickly brought under control, while assuring the people that government under Governor Ortom’s watch is on top of the situation and urged those who fled to return back to their normal lives.
According to the statement, the special adviser also commended the security agencies deployed to the area for their swift responses to the situation and for restoring peace to the two warring communities.
“George Alli, in his response, expressed his gratitude to Governor Samuel Ortom for always prioritising the security of lives and property of Benue people at all times.
“The Otukpo Council Chairman equally appreciated Ken Achabo for finding time out of his busy schedule to visit the communities to asses the situation.
“Alli, told members of the communities to find ways of strengthening their bonds and to live harmoniously with one another no matter their differences.
“He maintained that he has always emphasised that war is a mistake: because at the end of every war, both sides always live to count their loses. In war there are no winners,” the statement read.
The Voice gathered that the leaders also received briefing from the DPO of Adoka Police Station, SP, Hussain Idasho as well as the DPO of Naka Police Station, Idegun Boniface and that the stakeholders resolved to hold periodic meetings involving the 2nd Class Chief of Gwer West, HRH, Ter Nagi (Tyoshin) Daniel Abomtse and the Ad’Otukpo, HRH, Chief Samuel Onuh; the clan heads of both communities as well as village heads and youths, for the purposes of finding a common ground for amicable resolution of the immediate and remote causes of the crises, beginning from Monday, 5 September, 2021.
It would be recalled that the crises which occurred over disputed farmland between two farmers from Opa and Jor on Tuesday 31 August, 2021, claimed a total of four lives. Two from Ajor and two from Opa; while two others are said to be missing.