By Manasseh Akawe, Makurdi
The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has reiterated the government’s commitment to utilising every legal means necessary to secure the lives and property of Benue residents.
Governor Alia made this statement during an emergency meeting with stakeholders, focusing on security issues and boundary demarcation concerning the Benue-Taraba border and particularly, the Kwande corridor.
The roundtable discussion, convened at the instance of the governor, last Monday, at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi, aimed to address pressing security concerns in Kwande Local Government Area.
Represented by his Deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, who is also the Chairman of Benue State Boundary Committee, Governor Alia emphasised that the cardinal objective of the present administration is to safeguard the lives and property of Benue people, as well as enhance their security and welfare, emphasising, “we will not relent in our efforts”.
He reassured stakeholders of government’s committed to promptly addressing all matters related to the safety of Benue populace.
“Our government has not and will never abdicate her responsibility to secure the good people of Benue State. We are determined to fulfill this duty, as the primary responsibility of any government is the security and welfare of her citizens,” he assured.
Governor Alia also expressed his administration’s resolve to restoring peace in Benue communities, enabling internally displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
He acknowledged the pains endured by families and communities that have lost loved ones and livelihoods in the recent spate of attacks, promising that the government would employ all constitutional means to protect the people of the state.
Hon. Terhile Vitalis Neji, Chairman, Kwande Local Government Council, commended both the governor and deputy for their efforts in seeking lasting solutions to the crises in Kwande.
The Tor Kwande, HRH Chief Ambrose Iortyer and Ter Kwande, HRH Engr. Tavershima Ahile in their separate speeches, identified boundary and security concerns as the root causes of the protracted conflicts.
They urged the government to take proactive measures to address the security challenges in the area, alerting that if the conflict in Kwande is not contained, it could escalate into a full blown crisis.
Hon. Fidelis Unongo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties highlighted border security, trust-building, and diplomatic ties among the border communities as essential components in resolving the crisis.
Special Advisers on External and Internal Security, Col. Alexander Anshongu and Mr. Joe Har, reiterated the complexities of the crises and called for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to achieve lasting peace in the area.
Commissioner, Benue State Boundary Committee, Surv. Solomon Adaga, traced the origin of the crisis to the disputed 1923/24 Description between Benue and Taraba states.
He assured residents of the administration’s ongoing efforts to address boundary and security challenges along the 248 km Benue-Taraba border corridor.
As a step towards implementing the decisions reached during the meeting, the Benue State Government established a communiqué drafting committee to streamline the resolutions and develop actionable strategies, which will be submitted to the appropriate authorities for execution.(www.krestnews.com).