Some members
of the affected villages who were now squatting with some of their kits and kin
in Abuja, accused the security agencies of selective protection, claiming that
security concentrated to protect areas Tiv indigenes.
Addressing journalists in
Abuja, weekend, a group under the umbrella of Concerned Indigenous Tiv People
in Kadarko, Keana Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, claimed that since
the Tiv people were displaced from their ancestral home as a result of the
alleged herdsmen attack since 15th January this year, the Nassarawa State
Governor, Tanko Almakura had done nothing to bring the situation under control.
The group further claimed that despite the fact that the military had been
drafted to the affected areas, the police were not properly liasing with the
military for the military to credibly discharge their duty to get to the
terrorists that sacked the villages. It further decried that despite the huge
casualty where 12 persons were killed and over 30 persons hospitalised, the
state government only released N500,000 for the burial of the dead and
treatment of the hospitalised The spokesperson of the group, Dr. Benjamin
Agbede who was flanked by other concerned Tiv indigenes, expressed worry that
though the area was being inhabited by other ethnic nationalities, like Alago,
Eggon, Hausa, Igbo and others, Tiv people were allegedly selected target of the
terrorists. The group said, “As leaders of concerned indigenous people of
Kadarko, under Keana Local Government of Nassarawa State, we are concerned with
the security challenges confronting us and have decided to draw the attention
of all and sundry about the killings, maiming and other security issues as well
as the activities of the Nassarawa State Government and the security agencies; namely
the police and the military personnel drafted to restore normalcy in the area.
“Since the outbreak of the crisis on the 15th January, this year, due to the
Fulani/herdsmen attack on our villages, leading to the displacement of Tiv in
their ancestral homes, the Nassarawa State Governor, Tanko Almakura, has done
very little to bring the situation under control. “As a father to all, he has
not given the Tiv people any confidence that his government is willing and
ready to protect them. This is because, his government has not provided the
needed assistance in terns of providing food and the needed basic supplies to
the displaced people who are now refugees in the R.C.M Primary School, Kadarko.
“It is on record that the governor visited the area and saw the dead bodies on
the 30th of January, 2018, he merely directed that the corpses should be buried
by the families of the deceased without any form of assistance. We are shocked
that a paltry sum of N500,000 only was made available to be shared by the
families of those killed and those in different hospitals. “This amount is a
mere pittance as non of the families got anything reasonable considering the
share number of people killed and those hospitalized. For the avoidance of
doubt, 12 people were killed and more than 30 are receiving treatment in
different hospitals. The paltry sum given by the governor is a demonstration of
the disdain and lack of care about the pernicious pain and plight of the Tiv
people. “We are deeply worried that the area is inhabited by other ethnic
nationalities like, Alago, Eggon, Hausa, Igbo and others, it was only the Tiv
people that were selected target of the terrorists. We are also bothered that
the Police were quickly informed when the terrorists launched their attack at
about 1:00am on the 30th of January, 2018, there was no swift response from
them. We wonder why the police could nit respond on time to save the helpless
people when they (police) were duly informed of the shooting, killing and
maiming at Agwan Tiv. This is a clear case if a well designed and planned
terrorist attack on the hard working Tiv indigenous people of Kadarko.
“Although, the military has been drafted to the area after the visit of the
governor, it appears to us the police are not properly liaising with the
military for the military to creditably discharge their duty to get the
terrorists. We reliably learnt that each time the military makes an effort to
get at the terrorists, the terrorists flee before the move could be executed
thereby frustrating their arrest. “For now, the Tiv indigenous people of
Kadarko are under siege as 25 villages are completely deserted.” According to
the group, the deserted villages are Azer, Tamen, Bature, Agbara, Peter Agbede.
Nguchi, Igbacha, Shatse, Gidan Sule, Ngur, Nyam Adaga, Cha, Tseiyo (Gidan
Akpen), Ahima, Mori, Kpilaior, Che Tor, Chia, Anisa, Dooga, Mbamar, Rest house,
Anom, Che Utsaha and Ikpe.
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