By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Paramount Ruler, Ter Tyoshin, HRH. Chief Daniel Abomtse has praised the efforts of the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia to ensure that the large number of his subjects displaced by armed herdsmen for over thirteen years return to their ancestral homes.
Chief Abomtse who was speaking when the President-General, Tyoshin Development Association Chief Tarnongu Timothy Tiza led his EXCO and members of the Association to the Place of the Ter Tyoshin to intimate him on their activities aimed at complementing the commendable efforts of the state government, lauded Governor Alia’s efforts.
“These IDPs were unable to set foot on their ancestral homes for over 13 years, they lost over 577 relatives in 141 herdsmen unprovoked violent attacks on Gwer West local government alone which began on the 8th of February 2011and”, Chief Abomtse revealed.
To facilitate the safe and speedy return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the local government areas, the Association is opening up roads and rehabilitating others overgrown with weeds due to the long absence of people and this usage.
Accordingly, the Association has commenced work on the Ater/Tse Agbu City, Anguhar in Tough Atee Injaha council ward as well as that of Tse -Aji/Agberagba/Tse Chagu in Gbaange, Tongov and Mbachono council ward of the local government Area. Work has also resumed on the long-abandoned Annue/Agbu City and Kula Aguhar/Tse Lagu/Camp Nagi-Agberagba Road to ease movement and full return of the IDPs in most parts of mbakyoudu and Sengev areas.
President-General, Tyoshin Development Association, Chief Tarnongu Timothy Tiza, stressed that the decision to embark on the roads rehabilitation and reconstruction of new ones is the Association’s modest contribution to the Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s concerted efforts to return IDPs to their ancestral homes.
Chief Tiza said, “what we are doing is to help our brothers and sisters get easy access to their communities and homes, rebuild their lives as well as provide better access for security patrols. Suffice to note that, lack of easy access to the flash points by security agencies worsen the crisis against our communities”.
Chief Solomon Iorpev, Technical Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Media said, “Governor Alia’s homegrown security approach is yielding results with the deployment of the civil protection guards and Anyam Nyor (Police Special Squad) to volatile communities.This will facilitate safe resettlements of the IDPs and restore their hope, build confidence and livelihood”.
With the assurance last week, communities affected in the 14 year long unprovoked attacks by armed wing of Fulani herdsmen across Benue state started the return journey to their ancestral homes amidst jubilations and appreciation to the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who had promised during campaigns to return all displaced persons to their homes.
Community members, Mr. Asongu Eric Mr. Ude Ukough and Mrs. Francis Chia, returned IDP, expressed overwhelming gratitude first, to the state governor and the Tyoshin Development Association, describing particularly the roads work as a huge encouragement and a move in the right direction.
Mrs. Francis Chia called on the government and well-meaning individuals to step in and help rebuild critical infrastructure like homes, schools, and hospitals to give an enabling environment to the community to fully resettle and rebuild their lives.
Chief Tiza said the Tyoshin Development Association is badly in need of, and requires iron and cement for construction of bridges. He called on political appointees, sons and daughters of the area and local associations to rise to the challenge to ensure the return of their people to their ancestral homes.
