By Abraham Aondo
The Federal Government has assured the people of Benue North East Senatorial District that it would restore peace and address other infrastructural deficits in the zone.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Dr Essiet Abiodun gave the assurance in Ushongo while interacting with stakeholders from Kwande, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Vandeikya, Ushongo and Konshisha Local Government Areas.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement explained that the reason for setting up a peace structure in Benue, Plateau and Kogi was because of the community reports received from the states of and would be extended to cover the whole North Central zone aimed at strengthening local peace, early warning and response dialogue.
Dr Abiodun said her visit to the Senatorial District has equipped her with first hand information about the insecurity situation confronting the people, to adopt dialogue and non kinetic approach in providing lasting peace, stressing that all the concerns raised on boundary demarcation, poor roads and communication networks would also be looked into.
Director, Community Engagement Advocacy and Strategic Partnership with the Benue State Peace Commission, Frank Adzuul stated that the interaction was a follow up of the presidential peace engagement that was launched last year and pledged to support the implementation of the programme.
Ter Kwande, Chief Timothy Ahile appealed to the Federal Government to restrict herdsmen from moving with sophisticated weapons and grazing on their farms, providing them with motorable roads among other facilities.
Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Benue State, Ibrahim Gamal called for a holistic approach on the farmer-herder clashes to fish out criminal elements among them.
The team later visited the Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer in his palace and Jato Aka in Kwande where the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement sympathized with the displaced population and informed them that the Federal Government has deployed additional security personnel to protect them from further attacks.
Edited By Terna Injua
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