50 Tiv villages in Taraba turn ghost towns

The clashes between suspected Fulani herders andTiv farmers, which started around the Nasarawa and Benue axis, later spilled over to Taraba State with more devastating impacts.Over 50 Tiv settlements within the Gassolchiefdom in Gassol local government area Taraba State were said to have been sacked, with scores of people now displaced and seeking refuge in […]

The clashes between suspected Fulani herders andTiv farmers, which started around the Nasarawa and Benue axis, later spilled over to Taraba State with more devastating impacts.
Over 50 Tiv settlements within the Gassolchiefdom in Gassol local government area Taraba State were said to have been sacked, with scores of people now displaced and seeking refuge in neighbouring localities and states.
Some of the settlements attacked include Guyan Kogi, Nyita, Akosu, Bokun, Vaa, Yohuna, Salu, Anzan, Gbana, Numbe, Tuletule, Ogaa, Gyokyaa, Yonumbe, Ayem, Chiaminem, Kwaaaondo, Ruwan-Gora, Agungu1, Agungu 2, Nyikwa, Iorkyaa-ugase, and Dinya, among others.
Our correspondent who moved round some of the affected villages noticed that inhabitants of such places have completely fled the areas, turning the communities into ghost towns with no sign of human activities.
All that is left of most of the communities now is the charred remains of burnt houses, destroyed worship centres and household properties.
It was learnt that most of the settlements which were mainly made up of thatch houses were completely razed down while farm produce and property were looted.
A community leader in Danacha, Mr Jacob Agbagede, told Daily Trust that all the over 50 Tiv settlements within the Gassol chiefdom have all been sacked by herdsmen, stating that a good number of the affected villages were completely razed.
He said Danacha town is the only Tiv community under the Gassol chiefdom, which has not been sacked. He added that scores of people have fled the area while those who managed to stay back are now living in fear as no one could tell what will happen next.
“Even at that, we have been receiving threats of attack in this area. I believe it is because of the security presence that they have not attacked since,” he said.
For MrAgbagede, the attacks on Tiv people in Taraba State were unwarranted and done without any provocation, wondering why the herdsmen would just attack Tiv communities in Taraba State just because of the clashes between Tiv farmers and herdsmen in Benue/Nasarawa.
“Up till today, nobody tells us reasons why we are being attacked. The attackers are Fulani and we have held several meetings with their leaders trying to know why we were being attacked and they told us that we never did anything wrong to them. Why the incessant attacks Tiv people? We have not stoned their sheep or animal,” he said.
According to him, the Tiv have been living peacefully with the Fulani for over 60 years and wondered why they have suddenly become a target of attack by herders in the past few months.
Agbagede said over 40 people have been killed, over 50,000 people displaced, thousands of houses burnt and property worth millions of Naira looted from his people since the attacks began.
He said following the incessant attacks on Tiv villages, the state government called for a security meeting in Jalingo where Fulani, Tiv and Jukun leaders discussed and decided to end the violence, with a peace agreement signed on April 29, 2014 at the palace of the AkuUka of Wukari.
Agbagede lamented that the peace agreement did not work, adding that after the signing of the peace agreement, the attacks on Tiv communities increased in momentum rather than stop.
According to him, people who returned to their farms to continue with farming activities with the assurance that the peace agreement would work only met their untimely deaths.
He said the latest attack was the one launched on Dinya village on May 10, 2014 where four persons were killed while another got missing following the attack.
Agbagede said residents of Dinya community have fled the area in droves to neighbouring states for refuge, expressing concern over the massive displacements of Tiv in Taraba State at a time they were supposed to be working on their farms.
Some Tiv elders who gathered at the palace of the Tivward head of Danacha, Chief Daniel Mbaterem, expressed helplessness and disappointment over government’s inability to protect their lives and property, saying they now live at the mercies of God.
They appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to their communities and find lasting solutions to the situation to enable them return to their houses and begin farming activities now that the raining season is already here.
The elders also called on the government to always take proactive measures in addressing the problem, saying a situation where security personnel are only deployed after an attack is counterproductive.
Speaking on the socio-economic impact of the attacks, Agbagede said nothing has been moving economically since the attacks were being orchestrated on the people.
He said farmers are forced to sell their farm produce and livestock at giveaway price because of the situation, adding that a heap of yam that would have sold for N30,000 is now being sold for as low as N8,000.
He said they now operate at the mercy of the buyers who would just give them whatever amount they feel like giving for their produce because of the situation.
On farming, he said farmers in the affected areas may not be able to carry out any serious farming activity this year unless they are guaranteed adequate security and peace for them to return to their farms.
Also affected are students writing external examinations such as WAEC and NECO as well as other pupils and students who had to abandon their schools to run for their safety.
When contacted, Taraba State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Mafindi Danburam, said all the allegations levied against the Fulani are not true.
He said both the Fulani, Jukun and other ethnic groups were also being killed in the attacks and wondered who are to be held responsible for the attacks, adding that it is left for the security agencies to investigate and fish out those responsible for such attacks.
Reacting, Taraba State Police Command spokesman, ASP Joseph Kwaji, debunked the allegations that over 50 Tiv villages have been sacked following the attacks by suspected herdsmen.
“The allegation is not true. The police and the military are having joint intensive patrol in the areas to ensure there is peace. We have presence of our men in all the villages,” he said.
According to him, drastic, proactive measures are being taken to ensure safety of lives and property in the villages, adding that all divisional police officers have been directed to be going on patrol in their various divisions.
He urged members of the public to eschew rumours and always furnish the police with useful information that will lead to prevention of attacks, pointing out that the police cannot be everywhere at the same time.