Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday directed security agencies to arrest those who caused the recent clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Tarka and Buruku local government areas.
He gave the directive at a meeting he held with the two groups and traditional areas from the affected places.
Governor Ortom directed that traditional rulers from the affected district in Tarka should produce suspected killers of a herdsman while the police should arrest a Fulani herdsman from Awe local government in Nasarawa State who killed a farmer, as well as all those who caused the recent clashes.
He gave one week deadline for the arrests, including that of the native doctors who claimed to have fortified the suspects saying he would sanction the royal fathers if they failed to produce the suspects.
Governor Ortom directed his Security Adviser, the police, council chairmen, and traditional rulers from the areas to facilitate the return of peace and normalcy while ensuring that the trouble makers were brought to book.
He urged the two groups to expose criminals among them so that they could be arrested and forestall further clashes.
According to him, peace and security were cardinal to the execution of his development agenda for the state; hence it was his priority to secure the state.
The Governor disclosed that he would present a memorandum to the President on the establishment of ranches which he said remained a permanent solution to the perennial clashes.
He recommended the Buruku peace committee model to other areas because it included all major stakeholders.
Caretaker Chairmen of Buruku Local Government area, Mr. Godwin Iorsue and his Tarka Counterpart Mrs. Pheobe Dajoh while giving account of what had happened in their areas, attributed cause of most of the crises to those bent on taking laws into their hands without minding the consequences.
The Chairman Civilian Joint Task Force and the representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Benue State Chapter also attended the meeting.