Leadership of Irigwe Development Association and Irigwe Youth addressing a press conference in Jos, Tuesday 1st June. (Credit : Maria-Therese)
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Irigwe natives in Plateau State who were displaced by Fulani militia have called for national and international help to enable them return to their ancestral homes.
The people who have suffered series of attacks by armed men seek support to have their houses razed during the attack rebuilt.
In a joint press conference, Irigwe Development Association, IDA and Irigwe Youth Movement, IYM demanded the arrest and prosecution of the identified attackers, immediate deployment of security personnel to the affected communities to enable the inhabitants go about their normal activities.
The IDA National President, Robert Dodo who read the position of the groups at the press conference on Tuesday in Jos, said, “Rigwe nation has been under attacks by Fulani herdsmen for over some months and the effects of these have resulted in the destruction of lives and property, materials carted away, farmlands and crops destruction, houses burnt.”
READ : Murder of Ahmed Gulak is not political – Northern Governors
“In spite of these unabated attacks by the Fulani militias we have had less attention from those whose primary responsibility is the security of lives and property of all citizens. We are pained and have been allowed to mourn and grief on our own as if we don’t have those at the helm of affairs seeing and watching the Fulani nihilists unleash terror on our people.
“Despite the a continuous brutality by Fulani militias against Rigwe people, nobody has been arrested, investigated and prosecuted according to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even with the names of Fulani nihilists suspected to be perpetrators of these callous and barbaric acts.
READ ALSO : ‘Ibeno is best location for Ibom deep seaport project’
“We are concerned because their continuous living without being apprehended is like encouraging criminality. Houses that have been burnt down have not received any attention, no assessment carried out by the local, state and federal governments in an attempt to rebuild them.
“We are concerned because our people have been confined to internally displaced situation though not staying in IDP camps but accommodated by neighbors and relatives.
“Farmlands destroyed have not received any news of plans of compensation. We are concerned because, Rigwe people are predominantly farmers and this not doubt has great effects on the people because that is the main source of livelihood.”
“We appeal to non -governmental organizations to help in terms of provision of relief materials to the affected people, empowerment programs for the affected people, intervention through the provision of farming implements and fertilizer, engagement of women and youth in skills acquisition programme.”
