By Abel Leonard/ lafia
The executive Secretary, Nasarawa Emergency Management Agency Mr. Zakary A. Zamami has said Nasarawa is sitting on a time bomb in other words the animosity existing between the various tribes in the state is higher than any person, consequently one cannot be guaranteed total peace in the state.
The NASEMA Boss disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Daybreak news reporter, saying as a stakeholder all the crisis taking place practically is “somebody that doesn’t like somebody that doesn’t like somebody so something must be done to keep it aside”.
Reacting to the existing peace enjoyed so far in the state before the recent crisis in Ajimaka, the NASEMA boss said criminality have taking advantage of a fact that there was a crisis in Benue and they now want to make sure it overlaps to Nasarawa.
Adding that “the consequences is the shooting here there and burning while everybody begin to run even if you don’t know the direction in which people run this is the kind of matter we find ourselves in this kind of situation arising from there.” He explained.
“we cannot certainly practically speaking that the peace people are talking about is present because everybody is living with something in his/her”.
” we should know what is inside and then of course if it is that some Tiv people kill a Fulani young man and then the Fulani saw that and were not happy so they brought in target which led to the death of the nine in Ajimaka, whether that is the story or the story is that they were sharing the proceeds of the money giving to go and steal rails from the railway line and the money was giving and there was a problem leading to all those death, whether that too is the story or the other story that there is a group made up of old Fulani/Tiv young men who are going out to terrorize the villages may be that one too maybe the story”.
Mr zakary further stressed that the reason for the panic and running was because they were sure they had enemies that is why at the sound of the gun some panic running will start and people would be displaced.
He however, urged the people to always try as much as possible to see their neighbor as brothers, saying ” this idea that some tribe came and claim, I find it difficult to explain, some of us claim to be the original owners of Nasarawa state the truth is that the Agatu, Alagos all cross the River Benue to come here”.
Meanwhile, “while they are the ones who will never stay at peace as far as am concerned they are the number one brothers who are to put themselves at peace, they know where they are coming from and they are never together that is not a fair thing to do at all not in our own interest. He said.
He therefore call on them to appreciate their position in the state and to extend hand of fellowship to themselves, which he said would do a lot of good.
Reacting to the distribution of relief materials to IDS, he said it is part of the infrastructure calculated in governance adding that the main responsibility of government is the protection of lives and properties and when life and property of any citizen is in jeopardy then everything should be directed to it.
He further stated that the government will not run away from their responsibilities and that is the essence of security vote giving to every state for spending which is been giving to him to purchase whatever that is needed to distribute to victims affected by natural disaster or any other situation that requires help from the government.
Mr. Zamani also reiterate government commitments to always meet the needs of his people adding to the fact that government would never be overwhelmed in terms of crisis, this he said “because it is the essence of governance, in a situation that things like this occur and we say disaster is natural or man made it is expected to happen and if it doesn’t happen then we are lucky”
The NASEMA Boss therefore appeals to the people of the affected communities to remain calm as the government is always ready to secure their lives and properties while assuring them of their safe return to their ancestral homes soon.
Recall that the Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule has called for peace among troubled communities in Doma and Keana Local Government Areas of the state.
Gov. Sule who was represented by the Deputy, governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe accompanied by other government delegates said that he was in the community in order to ensure a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis between troubled Tiv Farmers and Fulani Herdsmen.
Also recall that on the 26, April, 2021, Daybreak news report that about 50,000 farmers in 13 village settlements have been displaced from their ancestral homes in Nasarawa State as a result of farmers/ Herders crisis in Ajimaka Doma local government area.
