Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has charged herders and farmers in the state to sustain the peace the state has enjoyed since his assumption of office.
He spoke at a meeting with the two groups and traditional rulers held at the Benue peoples House in Makurdi today.
Delegations came from Taraba and Nasarawa states.
Governor Ortom stated that he was committed to promoting peace in the state because it was the prerequisite for development.
He said no one in parts of the world including Nigeria’s North East, Syria, and Afghanistan, is comfortable with the developments in the areas.
According to him his administration would go after criminal elements among the two groups in order to curb crime in the state.
He said he was employing the carrot and stick approach to tackle crime in the state.
Governor Ortom disclosed that the Inspector General of Police has agreed to increase the number of police personnel in the state to boost security operations adding that he preferred to use the conventional security forces rather than militias.
He stated that he had planned that the novelty match played between herders and farmers played in Anyiin be replicated in Makurdi in the presence of several dignitaries including other state governors across the country but had to shift it forward.
Various speakers among the groups including Alhaji Usman Doka, James Nungwa, Nyiutsa Ankyungugh, John Olotu, Garba Bello, and Wakili Abdullahi blamed criminal elements for the crises and pledged support for peace.
Ter Logo, Chief Jimmy Meeme drew attention to the plight of displaced people and those returning to their destroyed communities who have no food and seedlings with which to commence the next farming season and requested assistance for them.
All the speakers urged Governor Ortom to sustain and deepen the peace efforts.