Benue State Gov. Samuel Ortom on Thursday inaugurated a commission of inquiry into the crisis between Tiv and Jukun community at Abinsi with a charge to find remote causes and suggest permanent solutions to the incessant crisis there.
Recall that on January 17, 2019, Tiv and Jukun youths engaged in a clash that escalated to disruption of peace, burning down of houses and destruction of other properties.
Inaugurating the commission, Ortom said the commission was also required to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the Jukun and Tiv crisis of May 22 and June 3, 2017 at Fiidi in Makurdi Local Government Area.
Gov. Ortom also charged them to identify perpetrators and principal actors in the crises and ascertain the roles played by traditional rulers, community leaders and elders of the two communities and apportion blame where necessary.
He further mandated the commission to ascertain the extent of damage to lives and property identify victims and make far reaching recommendations that would be implemented by government to ensure lasting peace in the affected communities.
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The Governor said though the task was enormous, he was assured by the calibre of the commission members that they would perform the assignment creditably, considering the fact that government attaches very high premium on peace within and between communities.
Ortom charged members of the commission to be unbiased and give equal opportunities to all to express their views just as he appealed to members of the communities to cooperate with the commission to enable them complete their assignment on time.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Wilfred Kpochi thanked the Governor for considering them worthy of the task and promised that his members would give their best to the task given to them to return the much needed peace among various communities in the state.
Other members include Mr. Samuel Udeh as Secretary, Prof. Emmanuel Kenen, Philip Orbum, Chief Michael Iduma and Ada Ebute.
