The Benue state government has ordered two communities in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state to steer clear of the disputed River Antse.

Unyande and Kwenev communities have been at war over ownership of the river, a conflict that has claimed many lives for the past 30 years.

The special adviser to Gov. Hyacinth Alia on security (Internal affairs), Joseph Har, gave the order in Makurdi, shortly after a meeting with stakeholders from the LGA on Sunday.

Mr Har said that the state government had ordered the two communities to keep off the disputed river, following an intelligence report of possible escalation of tensions in the area.

He said the report indicated that the conflict had the potential of escalating into a full blown communal crisis, adding that the decision was to prevent such occurrence.

He explained that the Iyharev speaking people of Unyande, and the Ngongov tribe of Kwenev, are fighting over ownership of River Antse.

He said the conflict has claimed many lives in the past three decades.

Mr Har said the meeting which had in attendance, traditional rulers in the area, the council’s chairman and the state assembly Member from the area would be reconvened next Sunday.

“Government has ordered that nobody from Unyande and Kwenev should go close to River Antse until they hear from Government. We will reconvene on Sunday.

“This administration has zero tolerance for communal clashes. So we want to stop it before it begins. If anyone goes ahead to do anything that may lead to the breakdown of law and order, we will go after the person,” Mr Har warned.

Also, His Royal Highness Ter Guma, Dennis Shemberga, the traditional ruler of Guma, commended the government for its prompt intervention over the lingering crisis, to forestall a full blown communal clash between Iyharev and Ngongov.

Mr Shemberga also explained that the communities were fighting over ownership of the river because of the large quantity of fishes in it, the fertile land around its banks, which is usually used for dry season farming, among other issues.

He disclosed that the two communities had taken the matter to court, but the traditional rulers had withdrawn the cases for out-of-court settlement as brothers who would forever share boundary with each other.

He said the dispute started more than 30 years ago, and had claimed many lives.

Also the caretaker chairman, Guma LGA, Simon Unongo, said in spite of the lingering crisis between the two communities over the river, the area was enjoying relative peace.

Mr Unongo said many IDPs from Udei, Tse Torkula, Yongbo, amongst others, had since returned to their farms following the intervention by the state government.

Terwase Uche, member representing Guma 1 State Constituency, said that the assembly was not considering enacting any legislation over such issues because each community had its peculiarity.

Mr Uche said it was better for the communities to find ways of resolving issues themselves without necessarily exacting laws on them, as they would continue to live together after the crisis.

(NAN)