Following a violent dispute that resulted in homes being set on fire and property valued at millions of naira being destroyed, the Benue State Government and security services have intervened in a communal conflict between the Mbakor and Agasha communities in Tarka and Guma local government areas.
The Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Maurice Orwough, led a peace and evaluation tour to the warring areas during which the peace agreement was signed.
Orwough urged both communities to sheathe their swords in the interest of progress after touring the damaged areas to evaluate the damage. He described the occurrence as painful and preventable.
He was accompanied by Raphael Yenge, the Chairman of Tarka LGA, who led the Mbakor delegation to the roundtable. Agasha stakeholders also showed up in significant numbers.
James Dwem, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dr. Yanmar Ortese, Commissioner for Cooperatives and Rural Development; Hon. Roy Ashirga, Commissioner for Housing; Dr. Stephen Hwande, Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital; and Rtd Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan, Director-General of Homeland Security, made up the state government’s powerful delegation.
To bolster security, heads of security services were also present, including the Director of the Department of State Services, the Commander of 72 Battalion Special Forces, and the Commander of COAS Intervention Battalion.
Dr. Ortese pointed out that no community can grow during a crisis, while Dr. Hwande reminded the populace of the high human cost of intercommunal conflict.
Together, the stakeholders urged women, young people, and traditional leaders to support security authorities and refrain from provocative behaviour.
Following hours of discussion, both groups decided to accept enduring peace and forgive one another.
Orwough emphasised that Mbakor and Agasha are brothers who must coexist, commended the communities for choosing dialogue, and stated that Guma Local Government would collaborate with the state government and security services to solidify the peace.