By Abel Leonard/ Lafia
About 50,000 farmers in all 13 villages in Doma and Keana Local Government areas of the state have been displaced from their ancestral homes in Nasarawa State.
Addressing the displaced persons yesterday in Kardoroko and Agyaragu, the Senior Special Assistant to Nasarawa State Governor on conflict resolution Engr Moses Utondu appealed to them to remain calm as the governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule is a man of peace and will immediately look into their problem.
He assured them that he will report their plight to the Governor and express hope that the government of Nasarawa State under Engr Abdullahi Sule will respond immediately to their plights and ensure that normalcy returned to the affected communities.
“My assessment so far has shown that our people are truly displaced, it is not an issue of speculations, but my courage and comfort is that, our governor is somebody who is committed to peace , we are here to see things ourselves and we are going to report back to the governor and he will take prompt action” he said
The SSA was accompanied by two other SSAs to the governor Hon Josephine Mark Ter, Hon Mrs Mercy Kumbur as well as the newly elected President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA) Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba, the Youth President, Barr Bananas Zayol as well as the TIDA woman leader Hon Mrs Helen Iorshashe.
Engr Utondu blamed the crisis on the implementation of the anti-open-grazing law in Benue State which is having adverse effect on the indigenous Tiv farmers in Nasarawa State who are leaving on the border lines.
The displaced village settlements are Dooshima, Antsa, Dooka, Angwan Yara, Ikyayior, Targema, Tse Tor, Chia, Umurayi, Dooga, Gindan Rail, Ajikamaka and Ankoma all in Ekye development area, Doma South in Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.
They were displaced by the rampaging herdsmen and are currently camped taking refuge in Kardoroko in Keana LGA and Agyaragu in LGA of Nasarawa State.
Others are taking refuge in relations/friends houses in Kardoroko and Agyaragu while others are proceeding to Daudu, Guma local government area of Nasarawa State.
TIDA president, Comrade Peter Ahemba said “the situation is so pathetic, so sympathetic, you have seen it all, the people are in very deep pains , they are displaced as a result of the crisis in Doma South last three days”
He also appealed to them to remain calm as the State Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule will respond immediately to their plight to ensure that peace returned back to their various communities.
Mr Cletus Wanshima who is from Ajikamaka village, an elderly man who is among the displaced persons told our Correspondent in Kardoroko IDP camp that they wake up last Saturday to the attacked on them by the herdsmen.
“They just lay ambush on our people and started killing them, so we have to run for our lives, they have taken over all our houses and are burning and looting our properties
“They invaded our communities matcheting people with cutlasses and gunning others down with their AK-47, they slaughtered a woman in Dooka village in my presence, they also slaughtered a man in Ikyayior village” he said
He lamented the terrible situation in the camp and called on the government of Nasarawa State to come to their aid
He said “we sleep on bare floor since Saturday when we got here, we don’t have mattresses or mats, it is quite a difficult situation as we are exposed to mosquito and all kinds of insects and reptiles during the day and at night” he said
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule has described the brutal killing of Innocent people during the weekend during an attack on Ajimaka Village of Dome Local Government Area of the state as an act that is reprehensible, callous and inexcusable.
Governor Sule made the statement in a press release signed by his chief Press Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Adra saying an attack that does not spare women and children bears the trademark of devilish elements who are bent on truncating the relative peace in the state.
Engr. Sule while assuring the people of the state on his determination to curb insecurity in the state also said that security operatives have since commenced investigations that will expose the criminals with a view to punishing them according to the laws of the land.
“My condolences and prayers are with families of those whose lives were lost. I urge them and the rest of our citizens to be rest assured that this administration will do all within its power to ensure Justice, peace and security across the state” Governor Sule adds”.
The Governor also calls for calm and support to law enforcement agents in the collective fight against evil.
