By our reporter
A scary account of the magnitude of herdsmen’s attacks in parts of Benue State, North-Central Nigeria, emerged this week as a royal father recounted that his community alone lost over 577 persons to the attacks.
Chairman, Tuoshin Traditional Council in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, HRH Chief Daniel Ayua Abomtse, said they were killed in 141 killer herdsmen attacks in the last 13 years.
Speaking during the official flag-off of the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their ancestral lands in Naka in his LGA, the king said the IDPs were displaced from their ancestral homes within the period.
According to him, none of them had returned to their native land since the first documented attack on February 8, 2011.
He expressed joy that the IDPs were now returning to live normal lives once again.
Under Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, a new lease of life appears to have come for IDPs and other hitherto stranded persons in the state as the government has kicked off an effective gradual resettlement of IDPs, the first batch now berthing in Gwer West LGA.
Supporting the government’s efforts, Tyoshin Development Association (TDA ), under its president, Chief Tarnongu Tiza, had mobilized the community to open up long-abandoned access roads.
In this wise, many such roads such as the Annue-Agbu City, Kula-Anguhar, Tse Lagu, and the Camp Nagi-Agberagba roads were cleared to ease mobility and return of their kinsmen,women and children who were IDPs.
Similar action was done on Anguhar road in Tyough Atee/Injaha Council ward and those of Tse-Aji, Agberagba, and Tse Chagu in Gbaange/Tongov and Mbachono Council wards.
According to the TDA boss, the decision was borne out of the desire to encourage the IDPs to return to their ancestral lands and rejuvenate their lives.
Chief Tiza said: “This critical project will pave the way for the safe resettlement of IDPs, restoring hope, confidence, and livelihoods for the affected communities.”
Effusive in their elation over returning to their ancestral homes, the IDPs lauded Gov. Alia for making their dream of returning home a reality.
Speaking on the occasion,one of them, Mrs. Franca Chia, urged the government and public-spirited persons to help facelift critical infrastructure such as homes, schools, and hospitals in the areas to enable them to fully resettle and pick up the pieces of their lives.
Also speaking, Technical Adviser (TA) to Gov. Alia on Media and Strategic Communications, Mr. Solomon Iorpev, who headed the government team to the event, noted,with joy, that the governor’s homegrown security approach was bearing much fruit.
