C'River: Assembly Calls For Deployment of Security Personnel To Yala Over Invasion By Tivs
By Mark IDRAH
The Cross River House of Assembly has called on the State Government to urgently ensure the deployment of security personnel to the brewing flash point in Yala to avert further loss of lives and property.
The call followed a bloody clash between the indigenes of Ochongor-Ijiegu in the Yache clan of Yala Local Government and their Tiv neighbours from Benue State who allegedly invaded the area, annexing lands for farming activities without due clearance.
The call was contained in a resolution adopted by the House following a matter of urgent public interest sponsored by a member of Yala 1 State Constituency, Hon. Odey Wonah.
Hon. Wonah revealed that the unprovoked attack has claimed a life already stressing that drastic steps must be taken to arrest the situation before it escalates while government must also ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly are brought to book to diffuse the current tension in the area.
According to Hon Wonah, some Tiv people from Benue who had always rented land from Ochongor, Ijiegu for farming for years with accompanying payment of royalties, all of a sudden invaded the area and starting clearing our land ahead the new planting season without authorization."
The Lawmaker continued that "When the landlords sent a delegation to inquire why the Tiv people did not obtain the normal required permission, they were attacked resulting in the death of one person and injury to several others."
Wonah further lamented that the Yala people are now afraid to go to their farms for fear of being attacked, reiterated that the Yala people are predominantly farmers and if they do not plant their crops they will be thrown into hunger and starvation next year.
In their various contributions, the Lawmakers unanimously condemned the action leading to the crisis and stressed the need for an immediate solution to prevent bloodshed.
On his part, the Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem strongly condemned the crisis and urged the State Government to immediately intervene to prevent more casualties.
