Benue State Boundary Committee on Saturday commenced formal demarcation of the boundary between Bonta and Ukpute communities of Konshisha and Oju local government areas.
Addressing the two communities at Bonta Market Square in Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue State Deputy Governor, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, called on members of the two communities, particularly the youths to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in order to attract development projects to their communities.
The Deputy Governor who is also the Chairman, Benue State Boundary Committee, said they were committed to ensuring that the proper thing was done to ensure the return of lasting peace to the area.
“As the Chairman of the Boundary Committee, I want to declare that I have no personal interest other than the peace we hope to achieve. Our role is to bring peace to the entire territory called Benue State”, he stated.
Barr. Ode who said the State Government would not want to use force to bring peace to the affected communities, however warned that government would not hesitate to deal decisively with people who are out to foment trouble in the land.
“Government is going to approach the demarcation with two hands. One hand is carrying the olive branch of peace, and another hand is the hand of force”, he stressed.
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He maintained that government under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia will come up with programmes to meaningfully engage the youths of the state, and requested for a list of unemployed youths from the two communities so as to involve them in productive ventures, while identifying hunger and poverty as the main cause of the conflict.
The Deputy Governor who expressed appreciation to the traditional rulers, members of the Peace Implementation Committee and other stakeholders for their contribution to ensure return of peace among the people also commended the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) which through persistent mediation and diplomatic shuttle helped in resolving the land dispute between the two communities.
“Today, Benue is going to make history. I want to pay special tribute to the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Your peace building initiative and mechanisms have proven at least in two of our communities: In Agatu and today, between Konshisha and Oju. It will be valid strategies that can be adopted for similar peace building across Benue State and beyond”, he concluded.
In their goodwill messages, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde and Engineer Okpe Onah, elder statesman, expressed appreciation to the Governor and his Deputy for the laudable initiative, describing the demarcation as an epoch-making event and appealed for unity of purpose in order to attract development to the areas.
Caretaker Committee Chairman of Konshisha Local Government, who is also the ALGON Chairman, Benue State, Philip Achuah and his counterpart from Oju, Mrs. Irene Arubi, represented by the Vice Chairman, Monday Angwa, expressed optimism that the boundary demarcation would mark the end of the crisis while warning that anyone who is found fomenting trouble is on their own, and would face the consequences of their actions.
It would be recalled that on the 14th day of August, 2023, the Konshisha-Oju Natural Resource Peace Agreement was signed at a colourful ceremony at Benue Hotels, Makurdi by stakeholders from the two communities and witnessed by Governor Hyacinth Alia who was represented by his Deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, the Tor Tiv, HRM, Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, the Och’Idoma, HRM Agabidu Pastor Elaigwu John Odobo, other traditional rulers, clergymen and representatives of security agencies.
The commencement of boundary demarcation on the border corridor of Bonta and Okpute in Konshisha and Oju local government areas will therefore bring permanent solution to the thirty-one year old border conflict between the two communities.
