President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has charged the warring communities of Agatu and the Fulani herdsmen in Benue State to sheath their swords and embrace peace for the progress of the area.
Senator Mark said when he visited the Apa camp where some of the displaced Agatu indigenes are currently taking refuge that there is no alternative to peaceful co-existence.
He condemned the clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives in the area and charged security operatives to rise up to the occasion and bring normalcy back to the communities.
According to him; “we have been living as brothers and sisters for so long and it is pathetic to now turn against one another, killing innocent souls in the name of expressing our grievances.
“There is a purpose for us to live together. God created us for a purpose and it is against God’s plan for a person to take a fellow human’s life unjustly.
“As government, we will not condone further destruction of lives and property. And I assure you that the culprits would face the wrath of law.”
The Senate President assured the displaced persons that the governments will make sure they return to their various houses pointing out that “This is the season for farmers to cultivate and plant. We should think of the future and stop this war. I plead with you all to have a rethink and embrace peace.”
Earlier, the head of the traditional councils of both Agatu and Apa, Ada Agatu, Chief N. Onah and Odegor Ka Apa, Chief John Anteyi appealed to the people to remain calm saying, the communities cannot afford to experience another clash as the losses recorded so far cannot be quantified.
The Royal fathers assured that the communities will maintain the peace with the Fulani herdsmen but called on government to look into the causes of the violence in order to stop any future occurrence.