Insurgency: Taraba LG boss worried by continuous influx of IDPs

The Chairman of Donga Local Government Council of Taraba, Mr. Nashuka Ipeyen on Sunday warned that the continuous influx of victims of suspected herdsmen attacks into the council may lead to a humanitarian disaster, without intervention from the state and Federal Government.

Ipeyen disclosed this while conducting newsmen round the Internally Displaced Persons Camps across five primary schools in Donga, the headquarter of the local government area.

According to him, there are over 4,000 IDPs who fled gun attacks from the neighbouring villages currently seeking shelter in the council. The Chairman explained that the attacks started one week ago in Muzi and Utile villages when suspected herdsmen returning from Takum opened fire on the inhabitants.

He noted that the attacks had since spread to other villages including Tormom, Shaakaa, Ovoh, Igo and Burukunu.

Ipeyen stressed that the influx of IDPs in the headquarters had created humanitarian crisis despite the state government prompt intervention in providing relief materials through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

“The IDP situation we have is getting out of Control, at the last Count, they were over 4,000 and more are still coming due to continuous attacks. As I am talking to you, more villages are being burnt down by herdsmen and people being killed.

“From the time the crisis started to date in the local government, 20 people have been killed so far and thousands rendered homeless on their own land,” he said.

Ipeyen called on the people to use traditional methods including Sticks and stones to defend their land from invaders.

Mr Samaila Ulaha, a Supervisory Councilor told journalists that the herdsmen launched attacks on communities claiming that they have been leaking information about their (herdsmen) movement to Takum and Ussa local government areas

Mrs. Terhemba Nyijimi, a 42-year-old mother of 10 who is living at the Donga central primary school camp told newsmen that water, food, medicals and clothing were the main challenge facing them.

She lamented that though government provided food for them the food could not go round the population as more and more people kept coming to the camps as a result of attacks on communities in the area.

“I can’t continue staying here for long, feeding 10 children and other relations in the camp is not easy. Some of them will be resuming school soon and I don’t know how I am going to raise money for their school fees.

“Again the rains are here and as farmers we need to go back to farm what we can eat and also take care of our families. So, we are appealing to the government to help bring the crisis to an end,” she said.