Nigeria’s
Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago recount losses, seeks justice
• NEMA
distributes relief assistance to victims
Though
normalcy is fast returning to the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Council of
Taraba State where both Fulani and Mambilla ethnic groups recently engaged
themselves in a crisis that led to massive destruction of lives and property,
some victims are still counting their losses.
One of such
victim is the Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan
Jika Ardo. Narrating how his house and that of his relations were razed down to
the foundation, he told The Guardian that he lost over 40 relations and all his
cows numbering over 500 to the crisis that ravaged his village.
Noting that
the state government and security agencies were yet to bring the perpetrators
of the act to book, Ardo said the only way healing through effective
reconciliation can take place is by dispensing justice to all concerned.
A
reconciliatory meeting recently organized by the state chapters of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Moslem Council of Nigeria (MCN)
to reconcile the two ethnic groups met a brick wall as members of the Miyetti
Allah Cattle Breeders walked out of the meeting.
Meanwhile,
the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief
assistance to persons affected by the crisis. The relief materials consisted of
33 assorted food and non-food items that include bags of rice, millets, cloths,
blankets, mattresses, cooking materials, children wears, dignity kits for
lactating mothers and detergents among others.
Flagging off
the relief distribution in Mbamnga, a mountain top community in the council
area, the Director Search and Rescue of NEMA, Air Commodore Sonny Paul Ohemu,
said the items were distributed to ameliorate the plights of the affected
persons, which was in compliance with the directive of the Acting President,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The Sarkin
Fulani of Mambilla Plateau, Alhaji Saidu Bawa, thanked the Federal Government
for the relief and requested for more support for the reconstruction of houses
that were destroyed as well as measures for restoration of permanent peace in
the area, Guardian reported.
He said
about 12,421 persons were displaced by the crisis, adding that some of them
have even crossed over the border into the neighbouring Republic of Cameroon
where they are now taking refuge.
The Mbamnga
Fulani community leader, Ardo Ibrahim Jibo, who received the relief items
delivered to the town on behalf of his people, also appreciated the NEMA
Director Air Commodore Ohemu and his team for the efforts made in conveying the
items to the community through the difficult mountainous terrains and crossing
rivers.
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