From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has stated he would do whatever is lawful for his administration to ensure peaceful coexistence between the Tivs and Jukuns in Benue and Taraba states.
Ortom made this known yesterday while receiving the report from Benue and Taraba Peace Committee, Benue Sub-committee led by Daniel Abbagu.
He said he was shocked by sustained hostilities between Tivs and Jukuns especially in Taraba, stressing that the two ethnic groups had lived peacefully together for decades before the ugly development.
Ortom said he and Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba had met several times and reached certain mutual agreements including the return of Moon and Chanchange communities to Benue and Taraba.
He noted that they had also agreed that any Jukun man living in Benue is an indigene of Benue and any Tiv man living in Taraba remains an indigene of Taraba, pointing out that the two ethnic nationalities had intermarried and had no justification for drawn-out hostilities.
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Ortom praised the committee for a thorough work despite challenges, saying his administration would translate recommendations made by the committee into action that would engender peace between the two groups.
Chairman of the committee Daniel Abbagu had recommended the implementation of a 10-point agenda by the Federal Government in 1991 and 1992 and acceptance of citizenship status to all warring communities in Taraba and Benue.
The committee also suggested that both governors, accompanied by the Joint Peace Committee and traditional rulers, undertake a tour of affected areas to build confidence in the people.
While suggesting the creation of a new state comprising seven local government areas each of Benue North East and Southern Taraba for peaceful and effective coexistence, the committee also recommended the creation of a Joint Standing Crisis and Conflict Resolution Commission for crisis management.
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