Reps wade into Nasarawa communal clashes
The House of Representatives has resolved to constitute an ad-hoc panel to probe clashes between Egbura and Bassa ethnic communities of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The proposed panel would interface with the Institute of Peace and Conflicts Resolution with a view to investigating all the issues surrounding the crisis.
The panel would also consider complaints and petitions from stakeholders of both tribes, towards find lasting solutions to the crisis.
Adopting a motion by Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi (PDP, Nasarawa), the lawmakers urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, and all necessary law enforcement agencies to deploy personnel to the affected communities to contain the situation.
Gaza in his motion noted with concern the history of violent clashes between the Egbura and Bassa ethnic communities, where many people were maimed and killed with many more forced into exile.
He said the most recent violent clashes between the two ethnic groups occurred last month with attacks on some settlements allegedly with the aid of hired militia.
The development, he said, got out of hand as both communities resorted to taking laws into their hands in seeking redress over their grievances, and that the crisis defied efforts of past administrations in the state.