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Nasarawa state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday blamed the elite for the spate of crisis between Bassa and Egbura ethnic groups in Toto local government area of the state.
He made the observation during a visit to the paramount ruler of Opanda chiefdom and Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council in the local government, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi.
The visit was to commiserate with the monarch on the ethnic crisis that engulfed his domain, leading to loss of lives.
Justifying his position, the governor said, “This is because if the elite want peace and stability and have feelings for common man, they would have come together to avert this crisis.”
The governor expressed worry that the elite, who had lived and schooled together from time immemorial, suddenly found it difficult to overcome the differences between them.
“So, today, I am here to say to the elites that henceforth, I will hold you responsible for stagnating the development of this area. It is high time you got up and realised what you are missing and the kind of danger you are putting your people.
“I am saying this with all emphasis that if the elites across the board do not come together and breed peace, history is not going to be kind to you. I am here to say it is time to end the enmity and forgive and forget so that the mistrust would end with your generation,” he pleaded.
He called on the two warring tribes to desist from taking laws into their hands, saying “when the chips are down, you would be judged for what you are responsible for because the law is not a respecter of anybody.”
Meanwhile, in continuation of the crisis in the area, some militia suspected to be Bassa, attacked an Egbura community of Katakpa last Friday, leaving deaths and destruction of property in its trail.
The assailants, said to be armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the community for the second time since the crisis started last month.
According to a youth leader, Hamza Sani, the attackers arrived the community when most of the residents had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of recently elected councillors at the local government headquarters in Toto town.
He said the attackers had a field day killing and torching houses since there was no much person to confront them.
The attack on Katakpa came penultimate Tuesday, after the same attack took place in Kparake, an Egbura community under Koton Karfe local government area of Kogi state.
In the attack on Kparake, many people, including a younger brother of a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Chris Ali, were reportedly killed.
