The details of the Benue State Security Council meeting have emerged.
The meeting presided over by the State Governor, Samuel Ortom, among other things resolved to implement the formation of Coordinating Committees to oversee activities of Community Volunteer Guard (CVG) popularly known as Vigilante Group at the local government and ward levels across the state.
The decision of the Council was informed by the need to step up intelligence gathering to assist the Police in maintaining peace and security at the community level.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, informed DAILY POST that the coordinating committee for the Community Volunteer Guard at the local government level will be led by the Council Chairman with members as the DPO, SSO, head of each council ward, head of the area traditional council, as well as the social welfare officer in the local government.
At the ward level, the coordinating committee will be led by the District Head.
According to him, the main function of the coordinating committees will be to monitor activities of the Vigilante Groups in their domains and give periodic reports.
He said the meeting also resolved to strictly enforce the ban on illegal roadblocks in the state.
Akasie said that the council resolved that security operatives will be given full backing to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found illegally blocking a road to extort money from people under the guise of revenue collection.
The CPS said that the council also resolved that security must be placed on the priority list of all local governments in the state, while a task force will be set up on illegal roadblocks.
Furthermore, on the Konshisha/Oju crisis the meeting resolved that the demarcation of the boundary between the two local government areas should be carried out as quickly as possible to prevent further crisis in the area while the criminals hired as mercenaries who are responsible for the violence between Konshisha and Oju would be identified and apprehended for prosecution.
Stakeholders on both sides were urged never to shield anyone behind the crisis and traditional rulers were told to encourage their people to provide timely and useful information to the police to enable them apprehend the mercenaries involved in the crisis.
Council Chairmen of Konshisha and Oju and other stakeholders were admonished to work closely with security agencies to identify criminal elements fomenting trouble.
The security, however, resolved to suspend the District Head of Mbatser/Mbamusa in Konsisha local government area, Zaki Mbanongun Gbakera with immediate effect and directed the Tor Tiv to appoint an acting District Head and set a committee to further investigate the involvement of the suspended traditional ruler.
The two communities of Bonta and Ukpute in Konshisha and Oju Local Government areas were told to jointly ensure the end of hostilities and the return of peace while the two Council Chairmen were charged with the responsibility of ensuring that dialogue and lasting peace prevail.
The Divisional Police Officer of Konshisha was also tasked to play the role of ensuring that the two motorcycles which were forcefully taken from Oju are returned without delay.
On the resolution of the crisis in Katsina-Ala, the Governor Ortom-led Security Council lifted the suspension of three Traditional Rulers in Sankera area namely Mue Ter Chongo, Mue Ter Ipusu and Tyoor Luke Atomigba, District Head of Mbacher in Shitile who were suspended on August 19, 2019, for the period of six months, for breaching the code of conduct of traditional rulers and of Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils Law 2016.
The Council also ratified the recommendation of the committee set up to look into the crisis in Sankera area; that Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa should be relocated to Katsina-Ala, the headquarters of the intermediate area, before the end of July, 2020, to effectively attend to issues within his domain.
It was also the resolution of the security outfit sent to Katsina-Ala to stop the crisis should be strengthened for the sustenance of peace.
