Rabiu Omaku
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Barely three months after the passage of a resolution by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to make available makeshift and relief materials to the victims of Angwan Sadeeq village in the Hadari electoral ward of Kokona Local Government, hopes of getting succor are depreciating daily.
The village head of Angwan Sadeeq settlement which is just three kilometers away from Keffi-Akwanga highway was neglected for quite a long time, that is even during the tenure of the first democratically elected Governor of the State, Abdullahi Adamu.
The untold story of Angwan Sadeeq or Gidan Sadi is that there is no single presence of Government in the village with a population of over 120 people, there are no signs of a classroom, access road, Primary Health Care, or dispensary, The only road leading to the village is the Keffi township stadium road, said a man that was conversant with the terrain.
Mal. Jibrin Usman, the village head in an interview with selected Journalists who visited the scene of the demolition recently said a fragment of people are presently in the village after the invasion while the majority have taken refugees outside the State.
He confirmed that they would rather remain in the village and die in the village than go to a new abode marred by wanton disturbances.
The village head who was in tears told Universal Reporters that they only inherited the land from their ancestors, but no evidence of either leasing or selling part of the land to anybody in Keffi.
He also told Journalists that a team of armed security personnel of not less than 200 escorted with two bulldozers mostly operational vehicles of the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board were in the community chasing any group of youth that may likely disrupt the operation.
According to him, nothing was left standing including our mosque, whose part was demolished before the operator of a bulldozer was given a directive to leave the mosque, even though part of it was pulled down by the overjealous workers and armed men.
Jibrin Usman revealed to Journalists that in the process of the faulty operation, two elders died following a heart attack while three toddlers who were seen running towards River Keffi are still missing three months after the attack on Angwan Sadeeq.
He attested that the majority of his people were locked in custody as part of humiliation meted on them by one Ramalan and the Managing Director of NUDB, Engineer Yahaya Wada, who for the past three months was dodging away from Journalists.
The M.D NUDB when contacted by Journalists during the award night of staff of the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Service’s held last two weeks at De 1st Crow Hotel,Lafia, He told Universal Reporters that is very busy within the days.
“You can’t see me at home as you see me I’m leaving to Abuja now for other engagement, Engineer Wada added.
It would be recalled that Honorable Daniel Oga Ogazi (APC) Kokona West constituency under the matter of public interest described to the lawmakers the situation as pathetic, Ogazi confirmed to the members that people of Angwan Sadeeq are sleeping in an open space following the demolition of the entire village.
“What happened is completely illegal, people died and three children have been missing since then,
The lawmaker-maintained history of the village has shown clearly that the land belongs to them, according to Ogazi, Sadeeku, the first village Heed spent 1005 years as the village head of Angwan Sadeeq before he died.
He said Sarkin Noma Umar took over from the first headship and spent 99 years as the village head, after which Sakin Noma Mai Jammar, left for 102 years before he died and finally Jibrin Usman, the present village head is approaching 58 years.
Jibrin Usman affirmed to Journalists that they took the matter to court in Keffi and a high court sitting in Keffi ruled in favor of the community, but still the issue was twisted in favor of Man Ramalan, who he confirmed married from the village.
“I had a terrible report of the invasion of Angwan Sadeeq by well-armed army policemen and Civil defense vigilantes with other people in mufti accompanied by two bulldozers of NUDB including the Managing Director who was also present at the scene of the invasion given the directive to the operators of bulldozers.
Ogazi during his submission at the Assembly tells the lawmakers that everything was pulled down by the yet-to-be-identified personalities.
Urging the Speaker to make a resolution that would bring succor in a hurry to the affected persons by either providing a makeshift to serve as a temporary abode as well providing relief material to the people of Angwan Sadeeq,.
He further explained that the majority of the people have sought refuge in Sabon Gida, Keffi Gudi, Akwanga, and Garaku.
“Mr. Speaker, we are the voice to the voiceless, anything short of this is a disservice to humanity, I will plead with the house to take a stringent step to investigate who is behind this crime against humanity.
Also, the Chairman of Kokona Local Government, Honorable Awwalu Adamu averred that the Council at the hit of the invasion provided security cover to the people.
He however declined further comment on the matter, calling on the State Governor to provide relief material to the victims.
Only time shall tell whether the NSHA would do the needful by investigating the matter thoroughly as well bring those behind the heinous crime to book.
