By Beauty John, LAFIA
Nasarawa state governor Abdullahi Sule and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom have met to resolve the ongoing farmer and herder crisis in the border communities of the two states.
The joint security meeting took place in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State today, (Wednesday 20th May, 2020).
The duo commended President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying Air Force to tackle the reoccurring crisis in the North-Central zone.
Governor Abdullahi Sule asserted that the peace meeting was necessitated due to some recent attacks and killings in the border communities of the two states.
According to the governor, “he approached his counterpart when he got reports on the crisis in the border communities and the subsequent claims and counter claims by the parties affected in the crisis”.
Sule revealed that the herdsmen in his state claimed that the livestock guards from Benue State crossover to Nasarawa and attacked them.
However, the livestock guards in Benue state claim that they have never crossed over to attack the herdsmen in Nasarawa State
He then warned herdsmen from Nasarawa state not to graze in Benue communities as their is no clear demarcation in the border communities
Also speaking at the meeting, Governor Ortom of Benue state commended Sule for his effort towards bringing an end to the reoccurring crisis by initiating the peace meeting.
Governor Ortom claimed that the livestock guards have not and cannot crossover to arrest anybody who violates the anti open grazing law of the state.
He therefore ordered security agencies to arrest any livestock guard official from Benue state found crossing over to Nasarawa State.
Ortom assured that that the deputy governors of the two states, who are also the Chairmen of boundary committees will workout modalities towards finding lasting solution to boundary related issues between the two neighboring states.Attachments area
