Kefas, Alia meet to end Benue/Taraba border insecurity
The governors of Taraba and Benue states, Agbu Kefas and Hyacinth Alia, have held talks with traditional leaders in Wukari, Taraba state, to address the insecurity plating their shared border.
- From John Mkom, Jalingo
The governors of Taraba and Benue states, Agbu Kefas and Hyacinth Alia, have held talks with traditional leaders in Wukari, Taraba state, to address the insecurity plating their shared border.
The meeting took place in Wukari local government area, where Kefas hails from.
The meeting is part of the two governor's commitment to return peace at the Benue/Taraba bolder.
The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration and restore peace in the region, where bandits have been killing and displacing people.
The governors visited displaced persons' camps and pledged to enhance security, provide relief materials, and support their return home.
"We're committed to tackling insecurity head-on and ensuring sustainable peace," Kefas said.
Alia said collective efforts and traditional institutions are key to lasting peace.
The Nation gathered the meeting is not unconnected to the ongoing killings and destruction of lives and properties by gunmen suspected to be herders within Takum, Donga, Ussa and Wukàri local government areas of southern Taraba.
Although the meeting was held in Wukari, the two governors and high powered traditional rulers drove to Abako, a settlement at Benue bolder line and Chanchaji, a settlement at the bolder line of Taraba state to access the humanitarian crisis bedeviling the internal displaced persons (IDPs) who are been chased out of their various communities by the bandits and were taking shelter in public structures.
The two governors renewed efforts to restore peace and strengthen collaboration between the two closely tied states.
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They vowed to do away with the bandits and return the IDPs to their ancestral homes to continue with their farming activities -their major occupation.
Upon his arrival in Wukari, Governor Alia paid a courtesy visit to the Aku Uka who is the Chairman of the Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Ishaku Adda Ali, to intimate him of his mission.
Alia’s delegation included the Tor Tiv who expressed the plight of Tiv people under the domain of the Aku-Uka.
Governor Alia explained that he led the Benue delegation to seek collaboration and synergy with the Taraba State Government and the state traditional institution to bring an end to the lingering crisis.
“Lasting peace can only be achieved through collective efforts and mutual understanding between the two states,” Alia stated.
He further noted that traditional rulers remain instrumental to any meaningful collaboration, stressing that traditional institutions play a critical role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding within their domains.
Governor Kefas reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring peace in the affected communities, describing the joint meeting as a demonstration of the strong resolve of both states to tackle insecurity head on.
Kefas and Alia assured the displaced residents of their enhanced security measures, provision of relief materials, and sustained government support to facilitate their safe return to their ancestral homes.
