Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Cecilia Onah, Lafia
Following issues of land grabbing that had led to several conflicts in the Southern Senatorial District of Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule has set up an investigative panel to look into the disputed areas in the zone.
There had been consistent out cries by Tiv communities in the area over the alleged seizure of their ancestral lands by other ethnic groups.
As a result of this, Governor Sule constituted the panel to look into the issue with a view to reducing issues of communal disputes, lost of lives and property, and to restore peace among communities in the area.
At the commencement of hearing in Lafia on Monday, the Chairman of the panel, William Akika, assured the communities involved that justice would be done to find a lasting solution to land grabbing in the zone.
He appealed to the representatives of the Tiv ethnic group who were present at the hearing to be patient, assuring that the panel would be thorough in it’s investigations.
“We will be thorough in the assignment given to us by His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, in a manner that the parties involved will come to terms with the resolution reached at the end of the exercise,” he said.
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Earlier, the President, Tiv Youth Movement who doubles as the counsel to the complainants (TIV Communities), Barnabas Zayol, told Journalists that several appeals were made to the state government before the panel was constituted.
Zayol, while expressing hope that through the panel, peace would be restored to the affected communities, urged all the parties involved to take the matter seriously for the good of the state.
“The Tiv people of Nasarawa state are happy with the policies and programmes of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s led administration, especially in the areas of security, development and unity of the state.
“That is why we are here today because we want all residents of the state to continue to live in peace and harmony,” Zayol added.
Our correspondent reports that traditional rulers and representatives of the other ethnic groups in the zone did not show up at the commencement of hearing which prompted the two-member panel to postpone its sitting till further notice.
