Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has called on warring parties in the recent communal crisis that engulfed Udege community in the state to embrace peace and dialogue in resolving their differences.

Mr Sule made the plea after an on-the-spot assessment visit to the Udege community in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) had, on January 10, 2025, confirmed the incident and that the recent crisis between two clans in Afoh land had claimed seven lives.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Sule said the crisis started three years ago over the ownership of a chieftaincy stool, which spiralled out of control, leading to the loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

“A lot of things have happened. We have engaged the sons and daughters of Afoh Land to assist us in resolving this. They have formed their own committees. They have tried everything in the past to quell the situation.

“In addition, we have also appointed our own committee, which was chaired by the Emir of Karshi. They spent a lot of time and came up with a recommendation for a way forward.

“It was while we were looking at the recommendations that the problem now erupted up again and escalated to where we are today,” he said.

He, however, lauded security agencies for taking proactive steps to ensure that the situation did not escalate beyond control.

He added that his visit to the community was intended to preach peace, harmony, and constructive dialogue in resolving issues.

“As a government, we know what to do, and yesterday, I decided that the two leaders of the warring groups are no longer leaders. We no longer recognise them as leaders.

“We have also decided to set up an administrative committee, which will be chaired by an ex-serviceman who understands what it takes to go through this.

“We will also pick two people from the two factions, and the two people will assist the administrator in coming up with lasting solutions,” he said.

He, however, pointed out that in the short term, his administration would find ways of supporting victims of the crisis who lost loved ones and whose houses and properties were burnt.

“That is the reason why we came with the officials of two ministries, that of Humanitarian Affairs and Women Affairs, so they can take an estimate of what happened and how we can assist the people who had been attacked,” he added.

(NAN)