8 killed in Tiv, Fulani crisis in Nasarawa

Posted by admin Headlines, Nasarawa, State News Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

No fewer than eight persons, including two elders, were killed in a fresh crisis between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Nasarawa State.

President, Tiv Youth Organization (TYO) Peter Igbacher Kwembe who disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Lafia alleged that the crisis started on Saturday, June 18 when the Fulani mercenaries razed down and destroyed 12 Tiv villages.
The villages, according to Kuembe, include Kile Sohor, Dooshima, Branch Advotugh, Tikwa, Autsa, Dooga, Angbogbo, Angwan Yara and Gidan Ihwa Mndza.

He alleged that Tiv people have strong reasons to believe that the attack by the Fulani invaders was a deliberate plot to wipe out the Tiv people of Nasarawa State.

Kwembe further alleged over 150,000 people including women and children had been displaced and property worth millions of naira destroyed or looted by the invaders since the unprovoked attack started.
The community leader while noting that the immediate problems confronting his people as a result of the attack to include lack of food, health, and shelter, particularly for children, appealed to the state government to provide relief materials to the displaced persons.

Kwembe attributed the plight of the Tiv people in Nasarawa State to the massive support they gave to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura during the last governorship election. He alleged the involvement of forces outside the state and advised the government to pay a visit to the troubled community to get on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

“In previous meetings with the Fulani in an attempt to avert this crisis, they have constantly emphasized that they don’t have any problem with the Tiv people of Nasarawa State, but one wonders what warranted this attacks,” he said.

-Sunwp_posts