Committee on Tiv/Jukun crisis tasked on return of peace

As part of the process of restoring peace to the violence-ravaged Tiv/Jukun communities of Taraba State and the adjoining Benue communities, the Benue and Taraba State government on Wednesday inaugurated the 10-man Peace Committee set up at the Joint Security Council meeting of the two states held on Monday, 15th with a charge to them to do all that is necessary to bring the persistent inter-communal clashes to an end.

Benue State acting governor, Engr Benson Abounu, who inaugurated the committee alongside the Taraba State deputy governor, Engr Haruna Manu at the Federal University, Wukari, tasked the members to be fair-minded in carrying out their assignment of unearthing the remote and immediate causes of the lingering crisis as well as proffering short and long-term solutions to it.

He charged the members to ensure that no effort is spared to ensure that lasting peace returns to the area.
Earlier, the host, Engr Manu had stressed the need for the committee to get to work, and engage the communities; particularly the youths in the peacemaking process, adding that without the active engagement of the youths and the community leaders, peace cannot be achieved.

The Committee which has 10 point terms of reference is to tour all the affected areas to sensitise the people, especially the youth on the need for peaceful co-existence, as well as assess and determine the level of destruction and report same to the two state governors for appropriate action.
The Committee is chaired by two alternate chairmen, one from each state; Hon. Dan Abagu, from Benue and Hon. Samuel T. Adda from Taraba State.

Other members of the committee from Benue State are Hon. Abo Uta, Dr Jem Tor Anyiin, Hon. Daniel Denen Vanger, and Hon. Charles Torbunde, while those from Taraba State are Barr Danjuma A. Adamu, Manu Danladi Boshe, Hon. Tanko Adi Hikon and Mairiga Gani Agabi

Responding on behalf of other members, Hon. Abagu and Hon. Adda in separate speeches promised not to fail the people but to do all that is humanly possible to bring lasting peace to their communities.