By Brenda Agba
Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Dr Francis Ottah Agbo, has condemned the recent outbreak of hostilities between Odoba and Obu communities of Otukpa District in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State as a result of which three people reportedly lost their lives with several properties destroyed.
Dr Agbo, in a statement made available to The Voice by his Media Adviser, Mr Andrew Agbese, said if the bonds that existed between communities where people saw themselves as brothers and sisters rather than enemies had been sustained, the needless violence would not occur.
He called on communities to resort to the old values of relating with one another peacefully stressing that, it was always better to unite and pursue common goals of development, rather than engage in unhealthy rivalry that does no one any good.
“As Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, I am aware that certain actions such as the needless killings in Otukpa, are usually induced by the abuse of narcotic substances and that is why I am relentless in fighting the menace of narcotic drug addiction and substance abuse,” he said.
Describing the situation that an altercation that ensued from a birthday party could inflame two communities to go at each other to the extent that houses would be torched and people killed as unimaginable, Dr Agbo appealed for calm even as he called on the traditional rulers and the polymorphous opinion leaders of various communities to step out and assert their authority to guide the youths towards embracing peace.
The representative also called on security agencies to be on alert to prevent further break down of law and order.
