The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris has called on Benue and Nasarawa state indigenes to live in peace and tranquility.
Idris spoke at a reconciliatory meeting between the two states on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that a lot of efforts and progress had been made to resolve the crisis between the two states that had lived in peace before now.
The police boss said that the meeting was not an avenue for anyone to apportion blame but to proffer solutions to the problem at hand.
“I want us to conduct this meeting as a sort of reconciliation; we are not here to apportion blame during our discussion.
“I want all comments and observations at this meeting to be geared toward peace and reconciliation between the two states.
“The information I am getting from my DIG in charge of operations in Benue, it seems the situation is returning to normal.
“I want to thank the governors of Benue and Nasarawa for the efforts they have shown toward the return of normalcy in the states,” he said.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benson Abounu, said the state cannot afford to have peace not founded on Justice and equity.
“We have come here with good intention, sincerity of purpose. We are here to rub minds with our brothers from Nasarawa.
“Benue is 100 per cent for peace and will do everything possible to ensure that the current crisis was brought to an end permanently.
“We need peace, we must developed a strong united country, then we must have peace founded on justice, equality and security,” he said.
Gov. Tanko Al-Makura represented by the Senior Special Adviser, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Umar, said they were at the meeting to resolve their differences.
Al-Makura, who said that the state was not against the Open Grazing in Benue, said that his state experienced a ripple effect of the attacks on Benue.
“We are not against the open grazing law in Benue,” he said.
The governor said that the people of the states were not at war but only had some misunderstandings which would be amicably resolved through dialogue.
Comments