Benue Govt warns communities to desist from communal clashes

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has warned two (2)communities in Guma Local Government Area of the State to stay clear of the disputed axis of River Antse that has claimed many lives in the past 30 years.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security (Internal Affairs), Chief Joseph Har gave the warning in Makurdi after a meeting with stakeholders of the area.
Chief Har said that the State Government has ordered the people of Unyande and Kwenev communities to stay clear of the embattled following intelligence report received from the area.
He said the intelligence report indicated that the crisis has the potentials of escalating into full blown communal crisis, adding that the decision is to prevent such escalation.
He also stated that the Unyande people who are Iharev by dialect while Kwenev are Nongov have been fighting over who owns River Antse.
Har said the ownership battle has claimed many causalities over the years.
“Government has ordered that nobody from Unyande and Kwenev should go close to River Antse until they hear from Government. We will reconvene on Sunday.”
He said the intelligence report indicated that the crisis has the potentials of escalating into full blown communal crisis, adding that the decision is to prevent such escalation.
He also stated that the Unyande people who are Iharev by dialect while Kwenev are Nongov have been fighting over who owns River Antse.
Har said the ownership battle has claimed many causalities over the years.
“Government has ordered that nobody from Unyande and Kwenev should go close to River Antse until they hear from Government. We will reconvene on Sunday.”