News Editor
Peter Jerome
The leadership of Tiv Development Association (TIDA), an umbrella body of the Tiv people of Nasarawa State have taken to the public space to declare that the Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency is not safe.
This was in a counter reaction to the public comments made by Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba, member representing Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency at the National Assembly wherein he claimed that his constituency is peaceful and safe when he was called upon to speak during a thank-you visit to the people of Keana Local Government Area by His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State.
TIDA in a release signed by its President Comr. Peter Ahemba, refuted such claims by the Legislator as it is a public knowledge that there is security challenge currently bedeviling some parts of the Southern Senatorial District of the State where many have been brutally murdered and thousands forced out of their homes.
Ahemba in his release stated that they wish to set records straight, for the sake of unsuspecting members of the public, who may be misled by Nalaraba’s claims.
“It is on record that Ajimaka, one of the Tiv Settlement Areas in Doma Local Local Government was recently attacked by suspected herdsmen, who unleashed terror on innocent Tiv farmers on the 24 of April this year to be precise. This barbaric act led to the murder of nine (9) persons, including women and children. Following this unfortunate development, the entire Tiv population in Doma Local Government from villages such as Dooga, Ategher, Zegeyor, Amuru, Kumbur, Uluwa Zever, Atandura, Gborgyo, among others have been displaced. The displaced persons have since then remained in IDPs camps. Thousands of them are currently in Doma, Rukubi and Agbashi, among other locations.
“It remains an unarguable fact that the unfortunate killings and burning down of houses belonging to the Tiv people started in Doma and immediately spread to Keana Local Government Area. Presently, there are thousands of IDPs of Tiv extraction taking refuge in Keana, Aloshi, Kadarko, including Agyaragu in Obi Local Government Area. We have many others in Abaagu, Ibua, also in Obi Local Government. Villages affected in Keana Local Government include Antsa, Umurayi, Kyaior, Torabaro, Nyam Adaga, Shatse Chia Tyozua, Ajo, Ihwabo, Nyitamen, Tachia, Uluji, Torabagi, Abebe, Jimin, Usen, Chahur, Kuduku, among several others.
“In Awe Local Government Area, substantial part of the Tiv population cutting across Uluji, Mararaba, Dooga, Orvanya, Kaambe, Gaar Buhu, among other villages have equally been forced out of their ancestral homes by the attackers. The victims are presently in IDPs camps in Awe town. Over fourty (40) lives have so far been lost since the first attack on Ajimaka Community, just as many other victims are still receiving treatment because of gunshots and matches injuries sustained during the wicked attacks on them.
“Ironically, Awe, Doma and Keana Local Government Areas that make up the Federal Constituency which Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba represents at the National Assembly are the worst hit. With this glaring insecurity in the aforementioned areas, how then can our lawmaker or anyone in his/her good conscience publicly declare that there is peace in these areas? Is it that the Tiv villages affected by the attacks are no longer part of the constituency?” The release disclosed.
Ahemba while commending the Governor for his government’s efforts at ensuring the peace and security of the people of the State and urging him to sustain the tempo, appreciated the Traditional Rulers in the affected Local Governments for their relentless efforts at ensuring the restoration of peace in their various domains.
