The Guardian (Nigeria)

Gov allegedly stoned at IDP camp

- From Abel Abogonye, Lafia

GOVERNOR Umaru Tanko Al-makura may have encountere­d his worst political embarrassm­ent from subjects when internally displaced persons (IDPS) reportedly stoned him at Agwatashi in Obi council area of Nasarawa State.

During a visit yesterday to the camp to distribute relief materials in the wake of renewed attacks on over 200 Tiv communitie­s in the southern senatorial zone, the governor was reportedly chased away by angry youths.

The youths, who allegedly chanted ‘go back with your relief materials, our people are lying dead in the bushes’, reportedly said AlMakura must leave the camp because “there was no need bringing any materials when killing continues in villages.”

The governor, who was said to have narrowly escaped the stones thrown at his convoy, allegedly regretted the harsh reaction meted on him when he visited the camp to sympathise with the inmates.

Reacting, Almakura was quoted as saying: “Now we know why the attacks in some of the communitie­s have persisted. Since you will not listen, we leave you.”

He was reported to have cautioned Tiv elders and the leadership­s of the ethnic group’s organisati­ons to call their subjects to order. It was gathered that it took the interventi­on of armed policemen to control the irate mob.

The governor, it was said, assured the people that more security personnel would be deployed in the area to douse the tension.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria