Stakeholders in Kurmi local government council of Taraba state, have identified improper boundary demarcations, as the cause of the ongoing wrangling between the people of Akoforo and Mbateh villages.
The two communities, as gathered by The Guardian, have been at loggerheads since the creation of Ngada Special Development Area from Kurmi, following the alleged failure of the past administration to define the boundaries.
The recent of such crisis which was tied to the apron string of lack of proper demarcations which our correspondent learnt led to wanton destruction of property, was said to have occurred earlier this year.
Stakeholders from the two communities who spoke with our state correspondent during his recent visit to the areas, blamed the past state government for it alleged failure to define the boundaries between the two community.
Speaking, the ward head of Akoforo, Zubairu Mairiga, who claimed that Mbateh land is under Akoforo despite the creation of the Special Development Area, wondered why those domiciled in the area have continued to pay allegiance to Ngada instead of Kurmi council.
Mairiga who noted that “the issue of taking up arm is unacceptable and it is against the law” beckoned at the current state government to as a matter of urgency wade in by ensuring proper dimarcation between the two villages.
“I want the government to immediately intervene because it they (government) failed to act fast, the situation will soon get out of hands. So I am pleading with the relevant authorities to as a matter of urgency come in and resolve this issue once and for all.” Said Mairiga.
Another stakeholder, who identified himself to our correspondent as Polycarp Solomon, siad for the timely intervention of Mairiga and security operatives, the recent upheaval between the two villages, would have taken a different dimension.
The crisis which he also tied to the apron string of lack of boundary demarcations, he believed if not urgently addressed, will end up throwing the two communities in confusions.
Displaying various letters of threats alleged to have been written to some stakeholders in one of the community, a retired headmaster, Apollo Shamaki, wants the government to go ahead and insert the right peg in the right hole.
Vowing to join forces with other stakeholders to forestall the further outbreak of crisis between the two villages, the need for the government and the security operatives to bring to book those igniting dusts in the areas, he believed can no longer be overemphasized.
Shamaki who tread further to reeled out names of persons suspecting to be given the communities sleepless nights, believed that the state government’s collaboration with the security operatives can bring them to their kneels.
Aligning his weight to that of the stakeholders, the Kurmi council chairman, Moses Maihankali, admitted that, the wrangling “has to do with boundary demarcations.”
The chairman who was also of the view that those behind the creation of Ngada Special Development Area, failed to define the boundaries between Kurmi local government council and Ngada, said efforts are already in the pipeline, to address the situation.
Arguing that Mbateh used to pay revenue to Akoforo,, the chairman who observed that the reverse has been the case since the creation of Ngada, urged the two villages to embrace peace as measures to put an end to the land tussle, according to him, are at the verge of being fashion out.
The post Why communal clashes persist in Taraba – Stakeholders appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.
