In a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering communal clashes in parts of Nasarawa State, the Inspector General of Police’s committee on the prevention and management of communal clashes yesterday undertook an assessment tour of some of the communities affected by violence in the state.
Members of the committee, made up of six Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, were led by AIG Christopher Dega for on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the state, to see how best to put an end to the recurring violence.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Yakubu, who conducted the high-powered delegation round some of the affected communities, first led them to Assakio in Lafia East Development Area, which had in the past suffered three Ombatse militia attacks.
The team also visited Gidan Gambo, Akunni, Legaobi, Bakin Kogi, Ikposogye and Daddere, where it was observed that most of the communities were either deserted or in some instances overtaken by weed due to non-habitation.
Addressing journalists after the assessment visit at Tudun Adabu, Obi local government area, the leader of the team, AIG Dega, who is the AIG in charge of Zone 8 Lokoja, warned that under no amount of provocation should communities take up arms against each other and visit such gory acts of destruction on themselves.
He also absolved the police and other security agencies of blame for failing to prevent the recurring communal clashes in the state, noting that the foundation of every peaceful society lies in the resolve of persons in the community to co-habit peacefully.
