From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
The Benue State Government has waded in to quell an over 30 years communal feud between two communities in Guma Local Government Area, (LGA) of the State.
The Special Adviser to the Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, PSP, who spoke to newsmen in his office shortly after a meeting with stakeholders from the LGA, said both communities have been ordered to stay clear of the disputed axis of River Antse pending Government determination on the matter.
It was said that the people of Unyande and Kwenev communities of Guma LGA have engaged each other in a prolonged fight over River Antse with each laying claims to it’s economic fortune, in a crisis that has claimed many lives in the past 30 years.
Speaking after the meeting, the Security Adviser said the State Government has ordered the people from both communities to stay clear of the embattled river following intelligence report received from the area.
He said the intelligence report indicated that the crisis has the potentials of escalating into full blown communal crisis adding that the decision was to prevent such from occuring.
He also stated that the Unyande people who are Iyharev by dialect while Kwenev who are Ngongov are fighting over who owns River Antse.
He said the ownership battle has claimed many lives in the last 30 years.
According to him, the meeting which had in attendance, the Traditional Rulers in the area, council Chairman and the State Assembly Member from the area would be reconvened to continue the discussions on the way out.
“Government has ordered that nobody from Unyande and Kwenev should go close to River Antse until they hear from Government.
“This administration has zero tolerance on communal crisis. So we want to stop it before it begins. If anyone go ahead to do anything that may lead to the breakdown of law and order, we will go after the person.” he said
The, Ter Guma, HRH Dennis Shemberga commended the Government for the prompt intervention in the lingering crisis saying it will prevent full blown communal crisis between Iyharev and Ngongov.
Chief Shemberga disclosed that the communities are fighting over the ownership of the river because of the large quantity of fishes in it, the fertile land around its banks which is usually used for dry season farming amongst others.
He further disclosed that the two communities had approach the court but the traditional rulers withdrew the case to settle them since they are brothers and would forever share boundary with each other.
He he expressed joy that the intervention by the government will bring a lasting solution to the squabble noting that the crisis have claimed over five innocent lives over the years.
The Caretaker Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr Simon Unongo said despite the lingering crisis between the two communities over the ownership of the river, his local government was enjoying relative peace.
Unongo said many IDPs from Udei, Tse Torkula, Yogbo amongst others have since returned to their farms following the intervention of the State Government.
Mr Terwase Uche, Member representing Guma 1 State Constituency said that the assembly was not considering enacting legislation over such issues because each community has her peculiarity.
He said it was better for the communities to find ways of resolving issues themselves without necessarily using the laws on them as they would continue to leave together even after the crisis.