From Francis Nansak, Lafia
The governors of Nasarawa and Benue states have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying Air force to tackle insecurity in the North-Central zone.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Orton gave the commendation during a joint security meeting in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, a border community.
The two governors explained that the deployment of the military has further added value to the efforts being made by the federal and state governments towards fighting criminal elements that constantly terrorised the two states.
They therefore promised that as leaders chosen by God and their people at this time to lead their respective states, they would do everything possible to ensure a lasting peace among their people.
Speaking at the meeting, the Nasarawa State Governor explained that the peace meeting was necessitated due to some recent attacks and killings in the border communities of the two states.
Governor Sule said that 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 explained that while the herdsmen in his state claimed that the livestock guards from Benue State crossover to Nasarawa and attacked them, Benue people on the other hand said that they never operated outside their state.
He noted that Benue State has ‘Anti Open Grazing Law’ in place and warned herdsmen from Nasarawa State to stay clear of open grazing in any Benue community.
Governor Sule added that, hence there is no clear demarcation in the border communities, herdsmen from Nasarawa state should not graze in disputed border communities.
On his part, Ortom commended Sule for initiating the peace meeting that would put to rest the claims and counter claims persistent in the recent crisis.
Governor Ortom explained that the livestock guards have not and cannot crossover to arrest anybody who violated the anti-open grazing law of the state.
He said once any violator of the law crossover to Nasarawa State the livestock guards do not have the right to follow them to another state.
He urged the security agencies to arrest and prosecute any livestock guard official from Benue state that crossover to Nasarawa State.
The Benue state governor also promised that the deputy governors of the two states who are the Chairmen of boundary committees would workout modalities towards finding lasting solution to boundary-related issues between the two states.
Leaders of the warring tribes, in their various submissions, pledged to respect and adhere to government law down rules in order to promote peace and development.
