By Rabiu Doma,Nasarawa
Information available to 247ureports.com indicate that refugees from Assakio Development Area of Nasarawa state have protested against an offer by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Malam Al Makura – of Gari as food at Internally Displaced Persons camp at LGEA Primary school, Namu ,Quan Pan Local Government of Plateau state.
It is recalled that over 5,000 people vacated their houses for safety following outbreak of renewed hostility by members of Ombatse on Alago tribe in Obi and Assakio.
As gathered, the refugees did not only reject the offer of lorry loaded with Gari at their IDP’s, the victims accused both state and Federal Government for neglecting the people.
The victims decried the insensitivity of the state/Federal Government to tackle the situation headlong, saying the concerned authority left them on the mercy of death for three days without security, “even when soldiers arrived the scene they keep watching while houses, shops were set ablaze and trees cut down”.
While at Obi, Agwatashi and Keana Local Government palaces which serves as IDP’s, Governor Al-Makura expressed discomfort over the intermittent outbreak of clashes which he stated was politically motivated. In his words, “I feel flabbergasted and perplexed over the renewed hostility by Ombatse on Alago extraction”.
The Governor described Ombatse as callous and inhuman, stating that Ombatse is a worry to many. “It is devastating”, he added. He ascribed the blood sucking demons as diabolic, reiterating that army battalion were deployed to Nasarawa state to quell the crisis.
Governor Al-Makura confirmed that 1300 household were devastated while 31 persons were killed in Obi and Assakio clash, not less than 3450 houses were destroyed and over 70 lives were lost in the coordinated attack .
Appealing to the affected communities and ethnic group to forget vengeance, he stated that state is at red alert to fish out those behind the heinous crime committed against humanity. He added “All Ombatse are Eggon but not all Eggons are Ombatse“. He said in spite of the introduction of peace mechanism tag Community Based Conflict Management, the crisis remains uncontrolled. At the time of filling this report Assakio, Alago settlement was deserted while in Obi few people were seen picking up their life from the rubbles of houses and shops.
