Border dispute: Group urges Gov Alia to enhance security

A group known as ‘Diiv Progressive Agenda’ in Benue State has appealed to the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to initiate security measures to protect the Bonta people of Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.

One of the measures they suggested is for the government to establish a mobile police station at the border of the local government areas of the state to forestall frequent border clashes.

It will be recalled that the Bonta and Ukpute communities, consisting of the Tiv and Igede ethnic groups from Konshisha and Oju LGAs, respectively, have been in communal clashes over the years, resulting in the loss of several lives.

The border dispute escalated in 2021 when 11 soldiers and an officer who were deployed to the area in April 2021 on a peacekeeping mission were brutally murdered.

Despite a series of interventions, the communal clashes seem not to have abated.

Disturbed by the frequent attacks, the President and Secretary of ‘Diiv Progressive Agenda,’ James Amove Ukpoko and Dooyum Agav, respectively, appealed to the governor to implement security measures to protect the people.

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Speaking at a press conference held in Makurdi on Saturday, the group said, “We call on Governor Hyacinth Alia to urgently implement security measures to protect the Bonta people.

“We call for a mobile police unit to be stationed at the Oju-Konshisha border, establishing a stable security presence to deter future attacks.”

The group also appealed for the re-establishment of the boundary between Oju and Konshisha to be marked by a clearly constructed road, suggesting that this would provide a permanent landmark for peaceful coexistence and prevent future conflicts.

The group lamented the humanitarian crisis created as a result of the recent crisis and called for intervention from relevant agencies to assist the displaced persons.

“We appeal to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other international NGOs to recognize the scale of this crisis and to provide urgent assistance to those affected.

“Bonta families are in dire need of food, shelter, and security, as the continued aggression has left many struggling to survive. The humanitarian needs are severe and pressing, requiring coordinated aid to prevent further suffering and displacement,” the group lamented.

TRIBUNEONLINE