Benue State Government has called on Ihyarev and Kparev youths in Mu Community in Makurdi local government area to exercise restraint following massive destruction of properties and displacement of over hundreds inhabitant over a land dispute.
Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Tony Ijohor (SAN), made this call when he visited the community with some members of state and security personnel to ascertain the level of destruction in the area.
The SSG who noted Government is currently looking into the matter with a view to resolving the crisis once and for all, said a meeting is on with concerned stakeholders to address the issues.
He expressed shock that the youths took laws into their hands.
Ihyarev and Kparev, both Tiv speaking tribes, have lived in Mu community for centuries, but clashes in the last two days over land, has left over hundred houses destroyed while schools and other commercial activities in the community have been put on hold.
Addressing newsmen after inspecting the damages, Prof Ijohor observed that quite a number of houses were touched but no lives were lost, stating that an audit will be launched to determine the number of houses affected.
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Meanwhile, Chairman of Makurdi LGA, Mrs. Mwuese Agbi who expressed shock over the incident, said the news got to her two days ago and she quickly informed the police who deployed a detachment of policemen to quell further violence.
Some of the affected residents, Terzungwe Usu and Achir Aondona accused the Ihyarev people of attacking and destroying their properties without provocation, alleging that some traditional rulers and politician are behind the attack.
They called on government to get to the root cause and bring the perpetrators to book just as they described the violent attack against them (Kparev) as sad and unimaginable.
The district head of Bawabayangen, Peter Tor, said he has made efforts to resolve the crisis before now all to no avail but transfered to higher authority to handle it.
Benue State Police commissioner, CP Garba Mukaddas, who was also part of the delegation said the police have been deployed to the community to maintain peace adding that the violence was unnecessary as the case was already in court.
