Renewed sporadic gunfire between rival clans in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region could derail ongoing development projects and drive away workers from the area, the Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu, Dr Abed-Nego Lamangin Bandim, has warned.
Dr Bandim, who is also Chairman of Parliament’s Communications Committee, said the immediate priority must be to prevent the renewed tensions from escalating and to preserve the relative calm restored through the intervention of the security agencies.
Speaking on Citi FM, monitored by NR NEWS, the MP said the deployment of the Police and Military, including joint patrols, had helped bring some stability to Bunkpurugu township following the latest incidents.
“There has been sporadic gunshots in the Bunkpurugu township. The security agencies have had to deal with that situation and as we speak there is relatively calmness in the area,” he said.
Dr Bandim appealed to residents and the feuding groups to exercise restraint, warning that continued violence could have consequences far beyond immediate security concerns.
“I would like to appeal to my people, they should allow peace to prevail. It is only when there is peace that we can enjoy the developmental projects that we are looking for,” he said.
He said a number of projects were currently being executed in the constituency, including school infrastructure and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, but cautioned that insecurity could undermine their progress.
According to him, most of the workers engaged on the projects are from outside the area and could abandon their assignments if they continue to be exposed to gunfire.
“Currently, there are school projects being constructed. There are CHPS compounds under construction. Workers on these constructions are not indigenous; they are not from the area, so if you don’t allow peace to prevail and every day they wake up to sporadic gunshots, there is no way they are going to stay. They are going to leave,” he said.
Dr Bandim stressed that the departure of contractors and workers could leave government-funded projects stalled, potentially wasting public resources and delaying badly needed infrastructure for residents.
“The government may have paid them, the contractor, and if work is not done, you cannot force them because they need peace to work, and we must choose between development and violence,” he said.
His comments come amid heightened security concerns in Bunkpurugu following the renewed exchange of gunfire between rival clans. Authorities are reportedly considering the imposition of a full curfew as part of measures to contain the situation and prevent further violence.
For Dr Bandim, however, restoring lasting peace remains critical to ensuring that development gains in the constituency are not sacrificed to renewed conflict.
