Two women, including a pregnant mother, have lost their lives as a result of the crisis between Ihyarev (indigenes) and Kparev (settlers) in Mu, a Tiv community in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
The two women were said to be fleeing from their homes for safety at peak of the crisis when they had an accident and died in the process.
The state Governor, Samuel Ortom who went to the crisis area to assess the level of damage described the incident as a sad development saying the two geoups have stayed together for a long time.
“There is no basis whatsoever for this and whatever warranted the destruction that I’m seeing here, this will not be accepted. We will not tolerate it anymore.
He directed the traditional rulers in the community to produce those who have perpetrated the act saying “none of them will escape and the wrath of the law will catch up with them to serve as a deterrent to others.”
Ortom said land belongs to the state and constitutionally, only the state government has the right to allocate land on behalf of the people. “So nobody can claim ownership of any part of Benue land without my consent. So there is no basis to fight because of land.
The Governor condemned the act in totality, promising he will get to the root of the matter to bring perpetrators to book.
He directed that security be beefed up in the areas and urged all indigenes of the community who had earlier fled the place to rerurn home as anyone caught formenting trouble will be dealt with.
He said the Security Council headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Tony Ijohor has commenced investigation adding that as soon as their report is ready, he will act upon it.
