House of Representatives representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, has lamented the recent outbreak of hostilities between Odoba and Obu communities of Otukpa District in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State in which three persons were reportedly killed.
Dr. Agbo, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Andrew Agbese, said the violence which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property was unfortunate as it was clearly needless and avoidable.
He said if the bonds that existed between communities where people see themselves as brothers and sisters rather than enemies have been sustained, such needless violence would not occur.
The lawmaker advised members of the communities to return to the old values of relating with one another as brothers and friends, stressing that it was always better to unite and pursue common goals of development than engage in unhealthy rivalry that does no one any good.
He said as chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, he is aware that certain actions such as the needless killings in Otukpa are usually induced by the abuse of narcotic substances saying that is why he is relentless in fighting the menace of narcotic drug addiction and substance abuse in the society.
He said it is unimaginable that an altercation that ensued from a birthday party could inflame two communities to go at each other to the extent that houses would be torched and people killed.
