Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, Speaker of the Benue House of Assembly, has urged the people of Mbaivur and Mbasombo in the Ikpayongo axis of Gwer-East Local Government Area to lay down their arms and let peace reign.
Dajoh made the announcement in Makurdi at a meeting with stakeholders from the Gwer-East Local Government Area.
He asked the Presidents General of the Masev Development Association in Mbasombo and Mbaivur, as well as Ter Gwer, to a meeting within five days of Thursday in order to address the dispute between the two communities.
The Speaker, who briefed reporters after the meeting, demanded a quick cease-fire between the two communities.
He also urged the president generals of Mbasombo and Mbaivur to begin the process of withdrawing all ongoing land litigations within five days in order to clear the path for the difficulties to be resolved.
“If you fail to resolve the crisis, the Benue government will take over the disputed land and send all occupants out.
“I urged security operatives to wade in and ensure that anyone of whatever status found sponsoring or causing trouble in the area to be brought to book,” he said.
Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the president general of the Mbaivur development association, Mr Atime Ikyo, thanked the state government for taking steps to end the five-year-old crisis.
“I will go back home and inform my people about the resolutions. I promise to do anything in my power to end the crisis,” he said
The Mbaivur/Mbasombo crisis, which was triggered by a dispute over land between the neighbouring communities, has lingered for five years and all measures taken by the previous government, including the suspension of the traditional rulers of both communities, failed to restrain the crisis.