Jimin Geoffrey
The Benue State Security Council today rose from an expanded meeting on the recent incident in Konshisha with a call on the people to refrain from making inflammatory statements, in order not to aggravate the situation.
Governor Samuel Ortom who briefed journalists after the meeting, said government and security agencies should be allowed to handle the situation.
He stated that the meeting had condemned in very strong terms the killing of soldiers by militia members in Konshisha, noting that traditional rulers and other stakeholders should ensure that weapons seized by the militia were returned unconditionally.
According to the Governor, Council sent condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff and families of the slain soldiers, stressing that six people were also confirmed dead in the military search operation that followed the killing of soldiers.
While noting that those who killed the soldiers must he arrested and prosecuted, Council resolved that in order to end the land dispute, there must be boundary demarcation between Okpute and Bonta communities of Oju and Konshisha respectively as soon as possible.
He said Council appreciated the military for accepting the plea of the State Government not to further escalate the destruction of lives and property of innocent citizens in the affected communities of Konshisha.
The meeting equally appreciated traditional rulers and other stakeholders for ensuring that some of the arms were returned and urged them to do more for the recovery of all the seized weapons.
The Governor while answering questions from journalists said the State Emergency Management Agency had already been directed to look into the plight of the displaced people with a view to providing succour to them.
