The governors of Benue state, Samuel Ortom and Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule have agreed to work together to ensure security and continuous peaceful coexistence of the people of both states.
The reached the agreement on Monday during a meeting at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
Nasarawa State governor had led a high powered delegation including his deputy, Emmanuel Akave, traditional rulers and other top government officials to pay a visit on Governor Ortom.
The two governors discussed issues of common interest including security, agriculture, border issues and possible ways to return and maintain peace in the two states and their border areas.
The Governors acknowledged the long time ties between Benue and Nasarawa, which dated back to the days of Benue-Plateau State, stressing that people of the two states had no justification to engage in conflicts.
Gov. Ortom paticularly described the Nasarawa State Governor as a man of peace as demonstrated by his visit and words, pointing out that the meeting would encourage people of both states to live in harmony.
Ortom assured the Nasarawa government that his leadership would not habour any criminal at the expense of its neighbours, stating that boundary demarcation was for administrative convenience and not meant to divide people and ignite crisis.
The governor further emphasized the need for the people of Benue and Nasarawa states to support security agencies to end crime particularly in border communities.
He commended Operation Whirl Stroke and other security operatives for their commitment to ensuring that peace and security returned to the affected areas.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said the aim of the visit was to strengthen security ties and to ensure that the peace enjoyed between Benue and Nasarawa was sustained.
Sule reminded the Benue people that “we are one and same people” having lived together for a very long time.
“Our mission first and famous is to pay respect to our brothers and sisters in Benue. So on behalf of the people and government of Nsarawa state, we decided to come to Benue first to congratulate Governor Samuel Ortom on his reelection, secondly as an opportunity for us to discuss issues of interest especially security.
Gov. Sule had earlier acknowledged the large population of Tiv, Idoma and other ethnic groups in Nasarawa State and stressed the need for peace and security between Benue and his state to pave way for speedy industrial development.
He said his visit was to collaborate with Gov. Ortom and chart a new course for greater economic development, adding that meaningful development would only take place in an atmosphere free of crisis.
Governor Sule, who maintained that nothing was worth the life of any citizen expressed joy that the two states have enjoyed relative peace in the last few months and declared that his state was ready for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, taking refuge in Benue to return to their homes in Nasarawa.
