The recent crisis which left no fewer than twenty Tiv farmers dead and over 5,000 displaced across twelve communities in Lafia, Awe and Obi local government areas of Nasarawa State has put many residents of the affected communities in a state of confusion.
The communities affected are Chabo, Daar, Tse-Udugh, Ayaakeke, Kyor-Chiha, Usula, Hagher, Joor, Tyungu, Ugba, Angwan and Ayaba.
It was gathered that crisis erupted December 17th when a Fulani herdsman was killed on Chabo community road in Obi LGA by unknown gunmen but the herdsmen suspected the Tiv farmers of killing their kinsman which led to a riot in the area, causing many to be displaced.
When The PUNCH visited the Internally Displaced Persons camp at the Central Primary School, Imon, Obi LGA on Sunday, over one thousand Tiv farmers were seen sitting helplessly and some begging motorists and Commuters plying the road for money to feed.
Our Correspondent saw two women, Laurencia Soja and Christiana Soja, crying profusely, lamenting how their husband, Nyantya Soja, was killed by seven herdsmen who stormed their residence in Imon community, Obi LGA, carrying AK-47 rifles in the early hours of Sunday, December 19th.
Laurencia Soja, who spoke for the family said, “Since our husband married the both of us, we have been living peacefully. He was not a troublemaker. He was always happy with people in our village but we don’t know why the herdsmen came to kill him.
“I have nine children while my co-wife has four. Our late husband was into buying and selling and that was our only means of livelihood. Now that he is dead, I don’t know how we would be able to survive. I am calling on the government and good-spirited citizens of the country to help us out of this situation,” she said.
Commenting on the matter, the President of Tiv Development Association in the state, Peter Ahemba, said it had been difficult for the family to feed since the demise of their father as they ran away from their clan in the community to the IDP camp for fear of being killed by the herders.
He said, “It is a worrisome situation. All these people you see in this Imon IDP camp ran away from their houses because they don’t want to die. Late Mr Soja has thirteen children from his two wives and life has not been easy for them since his death. My people really need help at this trying time.”
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Ramhan Nansel, said the command was making efforts to arrest those involved in the killings while assuring that security operatives have been deployed to restore normalcy in the affected communities.
Credit: PUNCH