Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, assured that his administration would collaborate with relevant authorities and do everything under the law to ensure that peace returns to warring communities of Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas.
Governor Ortom gave this assurance while briefing journalists after an expanded Security Council meeting with stakeholders from the two local government areas held at Government House, Makurdi, Wednesday.
He reiterated the need for Benue people to support security agents deployed in the state to end crisis in their areas, just as he cautioned the people against attack on security agents, saying such acts would make the situation extremely difficult to contain.
Ortom said as part of measures to nip the land dispute between Konshisha and Oju in the bud, it was agreed that the boundary be demarcated and a day was fixed for the exercise.
“A few days to the agreed date, crisis erupted again and security agents were deployed to control its escalation when the troops sent to Konshisha came under attack with two military personnel still missing. I therefore condemn  the practice of some communities engaging militia to fight their neighbours. I can tell you that such merchants of violence would be made to face consequences of their actions”, Ortom stated.
He charged stakeholders from the two local government areas to preach peace to their people and avoid the temptation of taking laws into their hands.
