Peace Restored Between Mbagwaza/Tsambe
Mr. Adue
Erich Adah
Following timely intervention of the relevant agencies and personalities, the Mbagwaza/Tsambe crisis has been put to rest. Benue State Police Command through its spokesperson Sewuese Aneneh, confirmed that normalcy has been restored and the villagers returned to their routine activities.
To this, a Makurdi based Peace Advocate and social commentator Orbem Lutso has commended the efforts of the stakeholders in containing the unfortunate crisis. He urged other warring communities to copy the example of Mbagwaza/Tsambe, who provided the enabling environment for peace to return to their communities.
Adue Allyosius is the Executive Director of ANCPI; Peace-building Expert and Child Protection Advocate. He also confirmed that peace has returned to the communities, but that the perennial water scarcity in the areas is addressed to avoid further occurrence. Adue stated that no community wants to live in chaos, but sometimes conflict becomes inevitable where there are inadequate basic amenities like water; the scramble for same breeds conflict.
Recall that Mbagwaza of Ushongo Local Government Area and Tsambe of Vandeikya Local Government have co-existed as neighbouring communities overtime and share certain commonalities. The atmosphere for a harmonious co-existence and peace was breached on the 7th day of May, 2020, when trouble started between the two communities over water source.
According to The Transmitter investigation, these communities source water from a well located within the territory of one Achamber in Mbagwaza community. The scramble for this one source of water resulted to a fight which later developed to a free for all that led to loss of lives and destruction of properties in both communities.
Stakeholders in Benue politics including the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Titus Uba intervened in the crisis and it was halted; both communities have shield their sword to give room for peace.
Water scarcity in the state has become a major concern for the people of Benue State. Almost every Community in Benue experience one form of water scarcity or the other. The time has come for well meaning Nigerians as well as corporate organizations to see provision of water to hinterland communities as a major panacea. However, politicians must also fulfill their electioneering promises of providing the basic human wants like water to avert unnecessary bickering in communities.
