BENUE: Ortom meets with stakeholders on lasting solution to hostilities in Sankera axis

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, held a meeting with stakeholders in Tiv land to find solution to the lingering hostilities in the Sankera axis.

The meeting which was initiated by Gov. Ortom, was held in Markurdi with stakeholders from Ukum, Logo, Katsina-ala and Gboko Local Government, as part of efforts to seek lasting peace to that region of the state.

While addressing newsmen after the five-hours meeting, Ortom declared that the participants “agreed that let there be peace not just in Sankera, but in the entire state”.

Communal crisis, mostly between Ukum and Shitile communities, have recorded massive casualties, forcing the state government to impose a 24-hours curfew on Katsina-ala town on Monday April 22.

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Ortom said, “The stakeholders deliberated extensively on all issues that have been facing the people and came to a conclusion that all forms of hostilities should seize forthwith.

“We all agreed that there should be peace not just in Sankera, but in the entire state.

“This decision has been conveyed to the entire Zone A Senatorial District. We are going to do a follow-up to ensure that we don’t have these issues again.”

Speaking on why he was yet to visit the warring communities, Ortom explained that it was the general opinion that the stakeholders should first meet to find out the problem that had culminated into that level of killings and destruction.

“We are definitely going to visit all the affected places,” he declared.

He disclosed that the Joint Committee between Taraba and Benue States, on the recent Jukun/Tiv crisis, would commence work next week following its inauguration on Wednesday.

The governor also ordered security personnel to intensify efforts to ensure that all those behind the atrocities were apprehended.

Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, admitted that there were issues among his subjects that bordered on hostilities and criminality.

Ayatse said that the traditional council had already issued a statement condemning the hostilities and also ordered the warring groups to sheathe their swords.

“We have issued a directive that there should be a seizure of hostilities. We are working together with the government to ensure that all these hostilities and criminality come to an end,” he said.

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