VICTIMS LAMENT EFFECTS OF COMMUNAL CLASHES IN BENUE STATE
Denen Daniel
James Iorshe, a victim of the Mbasombo and Mbaivur communal clashes in Gwer East lamented how sad the crisis has affected him: ‘it hardly can be sadder than the reality we are now forced to reckon with. It is so because, the current crisis began exactly when the first rains returned. We don’t have access to our farms and worse of it is that, the little we managed to cultivate before the start of the crisis have been destroyed. It is a sad situation, especially as peasant farmer with reliance on farming for our livelihood.”
Another victim, Eze Chinedu, Ikpayongo based businessman said blames games in the crisis should be completely put aside for both parties to forge a neutral path of restore peace in the area. He said “for those of us who are visitors, our opinion is collective: we do not expect anyone to be in anyway quick towards giving blames to any party. Such an act will rather make things worse. The most important thing is to understand the bad side of the crisis as it affects the economic prosperity of the town and its inhabitants. After all, the primary concern of every human being is social welfare and that can only be realized through economic stability and not crisis.”
In his lamentation, Tsavbee Agber, said everyone is a victim and therefore it should be a collective effort if truly there is any intention of bringing back peace in the land. “I have chosen to distant myself from my roots to avoid sentiments. I now see myself as an ordinary person whose major concern is to bring peace. Whatever be the grievances, it is riskier to sacrifice our collective economic fast growth for anything, being it personal or collective.”
Adzer Cosmos and Mrs. Me- Nfe who are middlemen in the ‘Akpu’ market located in Ikpayongo, lamented the negative impacts of the crisis has unleashed on the smooth conduct of business in the market. “The Akpu market in Ikpayongo has many sources of supply. As a result, the crisis hasn’t affected the supply of the stock. However, there are no buyers. So, you hear different stories from everywhere. The big buyers are afraid to come. They won’t want to take that high risk.”
Farming activities have been completely crippled. Uwua Emmanuel opined that so long as peace remains uncertain, it is but a matter time for everyone to begin to witness the adverse effects against food security. He said “one needs not be schooled before they will know the importance of the two seasons we have. While farmers harvest in the dry season, they cultivate in the rainy season. As soon as these circles of activities are altered, the two possible choices are: farming or famine. As for me, the course of activities in this time of the conflict is driving all of us closer to famine as we continue to increase our distance away from farming.”
Dr. Tyungu Gabriel, a Historian with specialty in Peace Building and lecturer with the University of Agriculture, Makurdi said “peace and conflict are two sides of the same coin. However, whatever should be the case; it is more advantageous for peace in any society. Peace building and sustenance is highly delicate and most times volatile. We will blame anyone but wish there should self -assessment by those involved.”
Peace among communities has never been so direly needed than now, especially as the wheels the economy of the world continued to struggle amid Coronavirus Pandemic. As peace gradually returns to Mbaivur/Mbasombo, there must be intra and inter dialogue engagement for people to understand the need for peaceful co-existence at all times. Crisis for whatever reason(s) does no good to any group or persons. Communities that have lived together for ages with shared communalities must learn to foster unity and mutual coexistence.
