By Amos Aar
AS the conflict between Mbaivur and Mbasombo communities in Gwer-East LGA of Benue State continued unabated despite attempts by the Benue State Government to quell it, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Aõndona Dajoh, after a meeting at Government House, Makurdi on Thursday with stakeholders from both communities took drastic decisions to restore peace.
Hon. Dajoh, who addressed journalists through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Akume Raphael, said failure to resolve the crisis within five days, Mbaivur people will be sacked from the land in dispute and the area will be taken over by the state government.
“If, for any reason or reasons, the president of Mbaivur fails to find ways to settle the crisis and send militia out of his community permanently, the government of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, will sack every living thing from the land of Mbaivur and their sons/daughters who currently have appointments with the state government will be sacked as well”, Dajoh said.
He tasked the Presidents-General of Masev, Mbasombo and Mbaivur as well as the Ter Gwer to meet within five days to resolve the crisis.
The Speaker warned that within two days from June 29, 2023, president of Mbaivur should produce whether dead or alive the youth from Mbasombo who was kidnapped while on his farm when Mbaivur militia allegedly gang-raped his nursing wife.
He directed security agencies to wade into the crisis and deal decisively with anyone high or low who will be caught sponsoring or fomenting trouble within the area
The Speaker further directed that the President of Mbaivuur should within 5 days from Thursday, 29th June 2023 initiate and complete all processes and withdraw the pending cases his community has against Mbasombo to pave the way for peaceful resolutions/demarcation of the land in contention.
