Tiv leaders express concern over inability of Taraba Government to resettle IDPs
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA), the umbrella body of Tiv people of Taraba State, has expressed serious concern over the inability of Taraba State Government to resettle some Internally Displaced Persons in Southern Taraba, especially in Wukari Local Government Area of the Sate
Adressing a World Press Conference in Jalingo the State Capital, Chief James Baka, President General of the Association noted with serious concern, the precarious conditions the Tiv people of the area are passing through for over four years now
Baka stated that the Tiv/Jukun Crisis which began in 2019 plunged thousands of Tiv Displaced Persons into several dehumanised conditions as they fled their ancestral homes to take refuge in the neighbouring states
According to the president, since 2019, the desired result have not been achieved from the efforts of the Taraba State Government towards resettling the IDPs, especially in Wukari Local Government Area of the State
He stated that most worrisome is the attitude of the Nigerian Army who have mounted concrete check points and bases in the Tiv Displaced Areas but yet, the people are been chased out when they make any attempt to return home
The Taraba State Tiv leader expressed fear that there might be a grand design to push out the people from their ancestral homes by some enemies of the state and called on the Taraba state and Federal Government to deploy adequate and neutral security officers to help resettle the Displaced Persons in their ancestral homes to enable them partake in the farming season
Baka also appealed to both Federal Government and the state to mobilise North East Development Commission (NEDC) and Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TASEMA) respectively, to urgently swing into action with the view to alleviating the affected people from the inhuman situation they had been passing through for over four years now.
“We therefore, call on the State and Federal Government not to hesitate, but deploy all immediate and necessary means especially in the areas of providing security for the returning Internally Displaced Persons in Wukari and other Local Government Areas in Southern Taraba to enable the Tiv displaced persons go about their lawful businesses.
“We also appeal to the Government of Taraba State under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas to personally visit the returning IDPs in Wukari. This will provides them a spirit of belonging and will also give them confidence in the governor’s resolve to end the crisis.
“We call on private, cooperate and spirited individuals to come to the aid of our people by providing relief materials and praying for them on daily basis to set them free form this precarious situation’. He added.
The president general recalled that personel of the Nigeria Army had recently, chased some Tiv returning IDPs from resettling on their deserted homes around Tor-Iorshagher, few Kilometers away from Wukari along Wukari Takum Road and called on the Chief of Army Staff to caution the officers
“We want the State and Federal Government to know that Nigeria Army have taken over some of our displaced homes in Wukari for over four years now and any attempt to return, always meet resistance from the army.
“We call on the Chief of Army Staff to constitute a panel of enquiry into our claims to enable the army establish the validity and act accordingly,” Baka stated
Recalls that the Tiv Jukun communual crisis which started in 2019 rendered thousands of people homeless and majority of the IDP are still taking refuge in the neighbouring states for four years now
