The insecurity situation in the southern parts of Nasarawa state has worsened as gunmen suspected to be herdsmen yesterday murdered Catechist Sydney Shirsha of Amudu village in Giza chiefdom of Keana Local Government Area of the state.
The gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded Amudu, a Tiv village in Giza Development Area of the state, killing the Catechist and two others in the midnight attack.
It was gathered that the attack left several others with various degrees of gunshot injuries, just as the incident has led to the displacement of over twenty thousand more Tiv farmers from various villages within and outside the Local Government.
President Tiv Development Association, TIDA, in Nasarawa state, Comrade Peter Ahemba, who confirmed the ugly development to Money Central in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, regretted that the Tiv people of the state have remained under sustained attacks by armed herders for no reason.
“The killing and displacement of the Tiv people of the state in the coordinated attacks have continued unabated since the first attack on Ajimaka community of Doma Local Government that led to the gruesome murder of nine persons about a month ago.”
“We call on His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule to save our soul. We are being chased out of Nasarawa state and we appealing to the governor not to allow the seemingly planned elimination of the Tiv community succeed under his watch.”
“We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the state government towards restoring peace and security in the affected areas and we as law abiding citizens shall continue to count on government for protection of our lives and property.”
“It is unfortunate that, while government is making frantic efforts to restore peace, the attackers and their collaborators are bent on ensuring that the Tiv community is completely wiped out of the state”
The Nasarawa Tiv leader also appealed to the state government to beef up security around the Internally Displaced Persons Camps, alleging that there are threats of more attacks on Tiv villages and IDP camps in the affected areas.
While appreciating traditional rulers in the affected Local Governments for accommodating many of the displaced Tiv persons in their personal homes and public facilities, the TIDA President equally acknowledged their untiring efforts towards complimenting the government’s quest for peace and security.