Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the Federal Government to set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the lingering crisis between Jukun and Tiv of Taraba State.
Gov. Ortom made the call during a security meeting between Benue and Taraba states stakeholders at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Ortom explained that when the Commission of Inquiry is set, it would help unravel the immediate and remote causes of the prolonged conflict to complement efforts already made by both states to arrest the violence.
The Governor who decried the spate of crimes in the affected communities in Taraba and the possible escalation of the conflict into Benue, called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks on innocent people.
Ortom commended President Buhari for wading into the conflict saying Nigerians must at all times, adhere to the country’s Constitution which provides a guide to lawful conduct of affairs.
The communique which was presented at the end of the meeting by Gov. Ortom read that proactive measures would be taken to curb further crisis between Jukun and Tiv in Taraba State.
It added that Governors of the two states would visit the affected areas to ascertain the level of damage while military personnel should be deployed to the warring communities.
Also speaking, Taraba State Governor, Mr. Dickson Ishaku, promised to cooperate with his Benue counterpart in any way possible to put a permanent end to the conflict and called for the amendment of certain sections of the Nigerian constitution to conform to the needs and peculiarities of states.
A press statement by governor Ortom’s Chief Press Secretry, Terver Akase stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the meeting
by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
He promised that the Federal Government would facilitate implementation of whatever resolutions reached at the end of the meeting for permanent peace to return to the affected communities.
It also said the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, the Aku Uka of Wukari, Iyorchia Ayu, David Mark, and Iyorwuese Hagher all called on the Federal Government to deploy security personnel to Taraba State to end the conflict.
Minister of Special Duties and Inter – Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume also said the Tiv and Jukun by history, were one indivisible entity who should not take up arms against themselves for whatever reason, expressing hope that the security meeting would yield fruitful result.