Mbaivur/Mbasombo crisis: Benue Speaker calls for ”ceasefire”

Speaker of the Benue House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, has appealed to people of of Mbaivur and Mbasombo in Ikpayongo axis of Gwer-East Local Government Area to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign.

Dajoh made the call in Makurdi during a meeting with stakeholders from the Gwer-East local government area.

He invited the President Generals of the Masev Development Association in Mbasombo and Mbaivur, as well as Ter Gwer, tofor meeting within five days from Thursday in order to resolve the crisis between the two communities.

The speaker, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, called for an immediate ceasefire between the two communities.

He also called on the presidents general of Mbasombo and Mbaivur to initiate the process of withdrawing all pending litigations regarding the land within five days in order to pave the way for the resolution of the problems.

”If you fail to resolve the crisis, the Benue government will take over the disputed land and send all occupants out.

”I urged security operatives to wade in and ensure that anyone of whatever status found sponsoring or causing trouble in the area be brought to book,” he said.

Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the president general of the Mbaivur Development Association, Mr. Atime Ikyo, thanked the state government for taking steps to end the five-year-old crisis.

”I will go back home and inform my people about the resolutions. I promise to do anything in my power to end the crisis,” he said

Supreme News reports that the Mbaivur/Mbasombo crisis, which was triggered by a dispute over land between the neighboring communities, has lingered for five years, and all measures taken by the previous government, including the suspension of the traditional rulers of both communities, failed to restrain the crisis.