We Are Dying of Hunger, Tiv IDPs Cry to Al-Makura

Emmanuel Ukumba

The displaced Tiv farmers at the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nasarawa State have cried out to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of the state to provide them with food stuffs as their food had since been exhausted.

They have also appealed to the governor to intensify efforts for their safe return back to their ancestral homes.

The displaced farmers, who were sacked from their homes about seven months ago by suspected herdsmen, are being sheltered at the IDPs’ camps across the state, while others had left the state to the other parts of the country in search of food and shelter.

The president of the Tiv Development Association (TIDA) in Nasarawa State, Boniface Ifer, who spoke to THISDAY shortly after an emergency meeting with the displaced Tiv farmers held in Agyaragu town in Obi

Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said the situation of the IDPs was not really funny because they had ran out of food stuff.

“The relief materials given by the government have been

exhausted as you can hear from some of them. There is no food and most importantly, they want to go back to their ancestral home. They are appealing to the state government to intensify efforts that will pave the way for them to go back to their ancestral abode; that

is what is very important, though the food is not here too. They need all these things. But the most important thing is for them to go back to their ancestral homes,” he said.

He lamented that some of the areas the IDPs were displaced from were not safe as there was the fear possible fresh attacks.

“So, it is my responsibility as a leader to appeal to the Nasarawa State government to fast track the going back to their ancestral homes. That is why we took time to organised this emergency meeting in order to know their condition and inform the government on what is needed to be done,” he added.