The Bassa tribe of the Toto Local Government Area in Nasarawa State is facing a dire situation, with many of its people displaced from their ancestral homes. In light of this, the tribe is now making a heartfelt plea to the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene and address their plight.
Comr. Abdullahi Shuaibu, the Acting Secretary of the National Bassa Youth Development Association, highlighted the devastating impact of the displacement incident, emphasizing the loss of lives and properties amounting to millions of Naira. He expressed deep concern over the lack of action taken by the Nasarawa State Government, led by Governor Abdulahi Sule, to facilitate the safe return of the displaced people.
According to Shuaibu, the state government has not provided any form of assistance, palliatives, or provisions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, leaving the Bassa tribe without the essential support they desperately need. Despite the efforts of the Bassa and Ebira communities’ representatives, including royal fathers, elders, and youths, to engage with the state government and relevant stakeholders, their pleas have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
Shuaibu attributed this lack of progress to the political dynamics and approach adopted by the current government when it comes to addressing the homecoming of the displaced Bassa community. He expressed disappointment that despite being one of the prominent tribes in the state, the Bassa people have been neglected by Governor Sule, as evidenced by the absence of any Bassa representatives in his cabinet.
In light of the dire circumstances faced by the displaced Bassa tribe, Shuaibu called on the Federal Government and all relevant stakeholders to swiftly intervene and take action to facilitate their return to their ancestral homes. He directly appealed to notable figures such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and other prominent personalities at home and abroad, urging them to make the necessary interventions.
“Your Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and all prominent personalities (at home and abroad), we call for a quick intervention because since the inception of the communal crisis in April 2018 in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, the Bassa people of the area have remained in exile till date,” Shuaibu passionately stated.
