Sunday 22 September 2013

NASARAWA CONFLICT SURVIVORS: ‘For three days, we waited for security agents to rescue us’

No fewer than 50,000 people have been
rendered homeless as Asakio, Odobu and Obi
local government areas of Nasarawa State are
turned to ghost towns as a result of the conflict
between the Ombatse militia and the Alago
ethnic group. Governor Tanko Al-makura visited the affected
communities in the company of his
commissioners to assess the level of damage
and to also sympathize with the victims
displaced and taking refuge in nearby
communities. Al-makura, while being taken round the areas,
lamented the destruction of houses, particularly
those of the paramount rulers in Obi and Asakio.
“I can’t believe what my eyes are seeing today,
this is inhuman”, he said. Worst hit were the Alago settlements in Asakio,
Odobu and Obi where no single house including
economic tree was left untouched by the
assailants who took their time to unleash terror
on the communities. It was a sight no one will
wish even his enemies. Among the places visited were the refugee
camps in Namu, Qwann pang local, government
in Plateau State, Keana and Akwashi in
Nasarawa where some of the internally
displaced persons, mostly women and children,
are taking their refuge. “I sympathize with all of you. I want to assure
you that my administration will do everything
possible to make sure you are properly taken
care till when the situation would be brought
under control so that you can all return back to
your homes”, the governor said. However the refugees expressed bitterness
over poor relief materials since penultimate
Friday when they were forced to flee their
homes. One Mr. Ishage Amodu said that they were
disappointed over the delay in sending security
agents to the troubled communities, saying,
“When the crisis started on Thursday, no single
security personnel could be found until after
three days. That is why those criminals had enough time to cause the kind of damage you
all saw at Asakio and Obi”. Earlier, the governor, in a state broadcast,
announced the banning of commercial
motorcyclists, popularly known as OKADA, in
Lafia, Obi, Doma, Nasarawa Eggon and Keana
local governments between 700pm and 600pm. He assured the people of Nasarawa State and in
particular those in the affected communities
that his administration will not allow any group
of persons to take the law into their hands or
destroy lives or properties. He appealed to the
citizens of the state to remain calm as government was on top of the situation. Meanwhile the National Emergence
Management Agency (NEMA), on Friday,
distributed relief materials to over 25,000
Internally Displaced Persons taking refuge in
Keana and Namu. NEMA Director General, Mohammed Sani-Sidi,
represented by Mohammed Suleiman, North
Central zonal planning officer, who presented
the items to the IDPs in those camps, said the
items were meant to ameliorate the plight of
the displaced persons especially women and children

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