Report by Aliyu Muraki; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Returnees of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have pledged to support the peace initiative by Governor Abdullahi Sule to ensure they are resettle back to their communities.
The IDPs made pledged when the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Service, Barrister Hauwa Samuel and Director General of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency-NASEMA Barrister Benjamin Akwash, visited them at a transit camp in Ukya, Toto Local Government Area.
The IDPs were Basa people from over 100 communities in Toto LGA who fled their communities as a result of communal conflict with the Ebira people in the area in 2018/2019.
Speaking during the visit, the camp representative, Mr. Ishaq Kaura appreciated the Governor for his tireless effort to ensure that they returned to the area, seven years after they fled away due to conflict.
He also appreciated the Chairman of Toto LGA, Ahmed Yahaya, and his Deputy, Mr Atnadu Yakubu, for their genuine commitment towards their return.
The camp representative explained that before the crisis in 2018, a lot of Basa people were millionaires and successful businessmen and women, farmers and civil servants, but today they have nothing.
“We will support the peace efforts of the government and forgive and forget about what had happened to enable us to live in peace and harmony with our brothers and sisters from other ethnic groups,” he added.
Also, the Women leader in the camp, Mrs Abigail Abraham, said it is only God who can reward the governor and the authority of the council for facilitating their return.
She added that already the women have started little businesses and farming activities and look forward to more government support to be back to their normal activities like before.
Also, Chief of the Kagbo community, Mr. Aguma Isaac, who spoke on behalf of Basa traditional rulers, thanked the governments for their efforts and support.
He explained that since they returned to the camp on February 10, 2025, there has been nobody that has attacked or even insulted any of them.
The Chief added that so far, 31, 499 of their people had returned to Toto based on their record.
”A lot of them had returned to their villages for farming activities even though no single Basa person has a shelter as it is at the moment.
“The classes at the camp are the only shelter we have, our houses and public structures in our communities were all destroyed.
“So, despite what the government has done, we still appeal for support to enable us to rebuild our communities and engage in farming because nobody can farm now without money,” the traditional ruler added.
He also appealed that because they do not have shelter in their communities at the moment, the government should allow them to stay at the camp until the end of the rainy season.
On his part, Deputy Chairman of Toto LGA, Mr. Atnadu Yakubu, said that the government was committed to ensuring that all issues in their various communities were resolved to ensure their safe return.
He appeals to them not to take the laws into their own hands but to report any problem to the authorities for prompt action.
On their part, the commissioner and DG NASEMA extended the government’s appreciation to the returnees for peaceful conduct since their return.
They added that both the once at the camp and those who had gone to their communities for farming have conducted themselves well.
The duo said that the governor had sent them to assess the conditions of the IDPs and provide them guidance to ensure their well-being for possible return to their communities.
The government representatives, therefore, promised to present the appreciation and pledge of the IDPs to the governor as well as their challenges and pleadings.
