Speaker of the Benue House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, has appealed to the people of Mbaivur and Mbasombo in the Ikpayongo axis of Gwer-East Local Government Area to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign.
Dajoh made the call in Makurdi during a meeting with stakeholders from Gwer-East LGA.
He invited the President Generals of the Masev Development Association in Mbasombo and Mbaivur and Ter Gwer for a meeting within five days from Thursday to resolve the crisis between the two communities.
The Speaker who briefed newsmen after the meeting, called for an immediate ceasefire between the two communities.
He also called on the president generals of Mbasombo and Mbaivur to initiate the process of withdrawing all pending litigations regarding the land within five days in order to pave the way for the resolution of the problems.
“If you fail to resolve the crisis, the Benue government will take over the disputed land and send all occupants out.
“I urged security operatives to wade in and ensure that anyone of whatever status found sponsoring or causing trouble in the area to be brought to book,” he said.
Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the president general of the Mbaivur development association, Mr Atime Ikyo, thanked the state government for taking steps to end the five-year-old crisis.
“I will go back home and inform my people about the resolutions. I promise to do anything in my power to end the crisis,” he said
The Mbaivur/Mbasombo crisis, which was triggered by a dispute over land between the neighbouring communities, has lingered for five years and all measures taken by the previous government, including the suspension of the traditional rulers of both communities, failed to restrain the crisis.
(NAN)
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