Bassa Development Association Accuses Nasarawa Speaker, APC Governorship Aspirant, Monarch Over Killing of 31 Persons In Toto

0 285

Rabiu Omaku

  • Deploys unbiased security operatives-spokesperson

Bassa Cultural Development Association Nasarawa State chapter has alleged that stakeholders of Igbira tribes are aware of the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State,

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to as matter of urgency deployed unbiased security operatives to the crisis prone area of Nasarawa State to avert ongoing war by hired mercenaries.

The position of Bassa people was made known to Journalists during a press briefing in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, the statement was jointly signed by National President, B

ar. Yusuf Wodi, National Secretary, Gwatana Huleji Dogwo and the National Publicity Secretary, Michael N. Adakeke.

The National Secretary accused the member Federal House of Representatives, Arch. Muhammad Jafar Ibrahim, The Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe for supporting the ongoing genocide by their kinsmen.

They confirmed that 31 persons were killed in two weeks without any military intervention.

“It is over two weeks now since the crisis in Toto began and Bassa  people have been consistently attacked by the Igbiras hired mercenaries who paraded themselves in military uniforms, these mercenaries are  often mistaken as military men by our people who as it were ought to provide security, but are used by Igbira militia to wreak havoc on Bassa.”

He said no fewer than 31 Bassas were killed including those kidnapped and killed on road blocks by Igbira militias.

“During these attacks, the Igbira militia who are practically led by these mercenaries in military uniforms from behind set houses ablaze while others looted our properties.

“As we speak now this genocide is ongoing in Ugya with the military leading the attacks against the Bassa.”

The Bassa people also the military of treating their kinsmen with high handedness like rebels and common criminals while Igbiras are given preferential treatment as there was restrictions of movement for Bassa people.

“We never heard of a restriction of movement order that is targeted at a particular race or tribe alone especially in a communal clash like this.”

Bassa Cultural Development Association also accused the member of the Nasar

awa State House of Assembly, Hon Galadima Saidu, the Interim Management Committee Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Dauda and the Paramount ruler,Ohimege Opanda,Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the traditional  ruler of Umaisha.

They listed some of the Bassa settlement attacked to include  Ugya,Gegu,Tawari,Koton Karfe,Sebu,Kpana and amongst other Bassa settlement were attacked by Igbira militia,

Bassa people also decried the kidnapping of Ephraim Moses Gunu and Manaseh Moses Gunu which he said were presumed to be killed by Igbira,

According to him,The genesis of the matter was the aftermath of the attacked of Kpanche community of Bassa Local Government of Kogi State by some Igbira youths on the 22nd of April,2018  leading to the death of six people while the traditional ruler of Kpanche escaped narrowly.

“That was the beginning of the war following the killings of Igbira youth who participated in the attacked in Kpanche and were neutralize by the military and they planned a reprisal attack on us” .

Bassa Cultural Development Association recommended unbiased security operatives be deployed to Toto to stop the ongoing cleansing of Bassa people.

The Union also called on the Nasarawa State Government to set up with immediate effect a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, while Meeting of stakeholders of Bassa and Igbira should be held as quickly as possible.

A military Base should be established between Toto and Umaisha axis to checkmate these constant and unwarranted attacks by the militia.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari ,International communities, Donor agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, National Emergency Management Agency as affluent in the society to come to their aid .

Urging the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura should visit Toto with immediate effect and invites the two warring parties for dialogue.

Government should set up IDP camps for the refugees; this will ginger the home coming of our people.

As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Office, DSP Idirisu Kennedy did not respond to his phone calls.

Leave a Reply