Taraba Returnees Plead For Govt Support To Resettle

The Chairman of the Taraba-Tiv Peace Initiative in Bali Local Government, one of the areas terribly hit by insurgent activities, Rev. Daniel Anum, has called on the Taraba State Government to take urgent to rehabilitate some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who returned home to safe them from untimely death.

Anum pleaded with the state governor to help the IDPs to fit into their communities again after leaving the camps through providing adequate support to restart life again, as many of the IDPs are now grappling with basic issues like food and shelter.

According to him, life is difficult for the returnees. “We want to appeal to the state government to assist us with food and tents to hide our heads. Many of our children are suffering from malaria, cough and other diseases associated with cold. It is good thing we are back home, but life is becoming unbearable for us.”

For him, this is important because their houses had been destroyed and if it rains they have no place to lay their heads.

He however commended the state government for making available some relief materials for the returnees.

Though over 2400 of the IDPs were said to have left the camps for their homes as directed by the governor, a large percentages of them, as stated by Anum are still wandering the streets as their houses and farmlands were said to have been taken over by herdsmen.