Is Enough No Longer Enough:
Mbaivur and Mbasombo Communities Grope for Peace
Denen Daniel –
Three years have gone past since the hand of mayhem began its first act of destruction amongst the two communities. Since then, it has been the task of search for peace. But more worrying is the fact that the two communities have gone for a search for peace with weapons of war and the resultant effect is that of daily destruction of lives and property. And after a careful study of the crisis, the reoccurring question is whether enough is no longer enough? It is time to embrace peace, heal the wounded hearts, reconstruct what has been destroyed and forge a stronger alliance for better tomorrow.
Mbaivur and Mbasombo are two major communities in Gwer East Local Government Areas of Benue State. According to history, there have been areas of disagreements between the two communities. Some of these disputes were never allowed to see the end of the day. But a particular one has survived: the Mbakough clan under the Mbasombo community has continued to lay claim over a parcel of land occupied by the Tse Nor lineage of Mbaivur community. It is also a thing of public knowledge that the Tse Nor lineage has continued to make its case to the effect that such claim as always made by the Mbakough clan cannot be substantiated on the basis neither of history nor legal. Above all, the pendulum of accusations and counter accusations has continued to swing.
Series of micro attacks were not absent throughout the tenure of this disagreements. However, sometimes in April of 2021, the Mbasombo community attacked and left the entire Tse Nor in ruins. The attack was predicated on the accusations that a militia group, at the instance of the Tse Nor lineage brought about the gruesome murder of an old man; an accusation the Tse Nor village still has continue to deny. On this day, the floodgates of attacks and counter attacks between the two communities was opened and the resultant effect has been the wanton killing of innocents’ souls and the destruction of properties worth billions of naira. As the two communities continue to trade accusations and sentiments, no rational mind has been able to clearly discern what exactly may instigate two brothers to make this nature resort to chaotic ways of settling disputes as there seen to be more to unite the two communities than any which may divide them.
According to Pa Ahula Ihya, “among the five council wards which make up the Yonov axis of Gwer Local Government, the Mbivur comprising of Gbemacha and Shor wards and Mbasombo as a people and as a council wards share the closest ties. One good area is the issue of marriage. There is great percentage of inter marriages among the two communities such that you hardly can count ten families from both communities without having seven of these families with one connection or the other from either of the communities. And so, it is certainly a situation of shedding the same blood. It is pitiable.” In another interaction, Mr Lawrence lamented the downfall the crisis has brought in the two communities in the area of economic prosperity and food security. He stated that “the Ikpayongo town which is in the Mbasombo land is strategically located: the highway, social amenities and good topography for construction. The Mbaivur community is yet to get some of these things but the community boasts of a huge population, farmers and people with the means to invoke development in area. So, it was as if there was agreement because every Mbaivur man or woman had one thing or the other to do with Ikpayongo. As a result of this, the town was on the path of accelerated development. There was prospect of economic prosperity due to high population and robust economic activities. Due to the peace and love which was in existence, everyone was free to approach the other land for the purpose of agriculture. The Mbasombo man could freely have his farm in the Mbaivur community and all of that. This arrangement made food to be always available and in the desired quantity. There was enough to eat and sale. Despite the fast growing population the town was experiencing, the market could boast of being the one lowest price of farm produce.”
According to Zaki Abaajov, “the relationship was such a harmonious one. The Mbasombo and the Mbaivur communities never could see themselves separate but as one community. Sadly enough, that relationship has gone sour and in its place is now the power of the barrel, bloodletting, wanton destruction and all of that.” Corroborating Zaki’s opinion, an elder from the Mbaivur extraction who pleaded anonymity started that,” what the crisis has caused is something we never envisaged.” Going further he added that, “Ikpayongo used to be our homeaway from home. The town was the clear course of emerging as the fastest developing place in Benue State. The relationship was such that in any organized association or gathering, leadership positions were shared with reasonable consideration on the relationship between the two communities. It was a peaceful coexistence until we could no longer hear each other speak.”
Others have blamed the crisis on act of indifference on the part of those whom it was thought could wedge in strongly and keep at a distance the ego of gangsters who have come to see the crisis as a means of settling their scores which are remotely distant from the overall interests of the society. When contacted by the reporter, a senior civil servant with local government service who spoke on the grounds of anonymity blamed the elite class for refusing to take their right place in the two communities, thereby allowing hoodlums, common criminals gangsters to be the driver of the fate of the crisis, “is a laughable situation for both communities. The two communities are made up of professors, lawyers, seasoned administrators and high standing men and women in the world of commerce, why can’t this class prevail over decision making especially as concerning this crisis? A man who has nothing to lose will spare nothing which is up destruction. And we all know that evil prevails when the good people remain silent. The onus is now on the elite class to liberate their communities from mental poverty and the tendency of barbarism.”
Asked whether there is still hope for the restoration of peace between the two communities, a business woman who deals in the hoarding of fermented cassava popularly known as Akpu and preferred to be known simply as Mrs Agena gave the response thus,” much of what has been happening, I think dwells more on the refusal to tell the truth. Everyone is playing a game with the other. The moment the two communities will decide to tell the truth, that same moment, warm embrace will be made and peace will resume its normal position. Both sides must ensure that the positions of negotiation, peace brokering and resolution are manned by men and women of integrity and not the other way. Most times, meetings for peace search are disrupted because of presence of arenas of trade of undiluted ego of gangsters and stark illiteracy. People with requisite tact of negotiation must take their right places in the two communities”.
The past two years have been those of grieving, loss and high level of uncertainty for the two communities. A crisis which ordinarily could have been controlled at the stage of conception, it has been allowed to escalate disproportionately and the result is the massive destruction of lives and properties worth billions of naira. The crisis has equally caused the displacement of thousands from their ancestral homes and the disruption of patterns of livelihood and the crumbling of economic activities in the affected area.
The June 13th, 2023 attack on the Ikpayongo Market left many gasping for breathes as where this may all end. The visit by the Executive Governor a day after the attack revealed a sign of hope. While recent peace meetings continue to take their turns at the instance of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the fundamental effort towards the resolution of the crisis lies with the two communities involved.
