‘I lost over 40 relations, 500 cows to Mambilla Plateau crisis’

Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo.

• Nigeria’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago recount losses, seeks justice
• NEMA distributes relief assistance to victims

Though normalcy is fast returning to the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Council of Taraba State where both Fulani and Mambilla ethnic groups recently engaged themselves in a crisis that led to massive destruction of lives and property, some victims are still counting their losses.

One of such victim is the Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo. Narrating how his house and that of his relations were razed down to the foundation, he told The Guardian that he lost over 40 relations and all his cows numbering over 500 to the crisis that ravaged his village.

Noting that the state government and security agencies were yet to bring the perpetrators of the act to book, Ardo said the only way healing through effective reconciliation can take place is by dispensing justice to all concerned.

A reconciliatory meeting recently organized by the state chapters of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Moslem Council of Nigeria (MCN) to reconcile the two ethnic groups met a brick wall as members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders walked out of the meeting.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief assistance to persons affected by the crisis. The relief materials consisted of 33 assorted food and non-food items that include bags of rice, millets, cloths, blankets, mattresses, cooking materials, children wears, dignity kits for lactating mothers and detergents among others.

Flagging off the relief distribution in Mbamnga, a mountain top community in the council area, the Director Search and Rescue of NEMA, Air Commodore Sonny Paul Ohemu, said the items were distributed to ameliorate the plights of the affected persons, which was in compliance with the directive of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The Sarkin Fulani of Mambilla Plateau, Alhaji Saidu Bawa, thanked the Federal Government for the relief and requested for more support for the reconstruction of houses that were destroyed as well as measures for restoration of permanent peace in the area.

He said about 12,421 persons were displaced by the crisis, adding that some of them have even crossed over the border into the neighbouring Republic of Cameroon where they are now taking refuge.

The Mbamnga Fulani community leader, Ardo Ibrahim Jibo, who received the relief items delivered to the town on behalf of his people, also appreciated the NEMA Director Air Commodore Ohemu and his team for the efforts made in conveying the items to the community through the difficult mountainous terrains and crossing rivers.