Gambo Usman, Jalingo
Internally Displaced Persons in Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State have lauded the recent appointments of some of their sons as cabinet members of the Taraba State Government by the governor of the state, Dr Agbu Kefas, but appealed that the government should prioritise resettlement of the displaced persons who flee their homes for over five years and are passing through difficult times
The the leader of the IDPs, Mr Achibo Peter, who addressed journalists in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital, stated that the governor’s decision to appoint some of the IDPs into his cabinet was a commendable decision but it would have been the best if he would make move to resttle the IDPs in their displaced homes
Mr Achibo lamented that since they flee their homes following the crisis between the Tiv and the Jukun people, the governor’s kinsmen, many have passed away just as many are excruciating silently in pains without any faithful attention from any authority
He pointed out that over 40 Public schools located in their displaced areas have been deserted and vandalized, sending pupils who were in the schools to the streets of the neighbouring states, since their parents who hardly provide three square meal, no longer afford their school fees
He noted that the free education policy being run in the state has eluded thousands of pupils even as graves of their ancestors and economic trees have been turned to security farm lands
“Ours is a pathetic situation. Our children no longer go to school and our parents have no where to farm. You can just imagine what the future holds for our children who are growing up in the areas.
“Since we flee our homes five years back, several efforts have been made for peaceful resolutions so that people could go back to their places but all to no avail. The previous government held several meetings even at the instance of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the SGF, Boss Mustapha
“The then Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku promised to come back and resettled the mater since it was an internal problem, but only to come and frustrate us the more. We thought the present administration would clear the mess of the previous government but one year after, we have not seen any serious move of resetleling us in our displaced homes.
“Rather, security officers are used against us. They are mounted around all our villages from every road linking Wukari to prevent us from returning home. See them from Wukari to Jootar, Wukari to Takum, Wukari to Kente, Wukari to Ibi, Wukari to Jalingo and Wukari to Tsukundi. They shut any person that attempt to go back home and name him or her bandit.
“We can not fathom why they are securing our homes and we can not come back home. Should we assume our security officers have abandoned their professional ethics and stoop so low to collude with our Jukun brothers in their deliberate plans to scheme us out and exterminate us in Wukari LGA?
“We have similar pathetic situation in all the Local Governments in Southern Taraba, including Ibi, Takum, Donga as well as Ussa and Yangtu Development Areas where people are displaced as a result of herdsmen attacks
“If there is anything we need now, it is to go back to our homes especially that hardship in the country has continue to aggravate,” the IDP leader stressed.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that two members of the IDPs who fled their homes as a result of the Tiv Jukun Crisis that started since 2019, made the list of the recent appointments of Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Community Special Assistants, Boards members, members of Commissions and Agencies released by Governor Agbu Kefas through the SSG
The appointed persons are however, yet to be given portfolios even as they await formal inauguration.
