Intervene in communal crisis in Taraba communities, Reps tell Buhari

By Christiana Ekpa 

The House of Representatives, Wednesday urged the Federal Government to put an effective mechanism in place to prevent the recurring communal clashes between Ichen and Chamb-Dakka communities in the Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

 The House equally mandated the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to ensure compliance.

The House resolution was as the result of  a motion moved by David Abel Fuoh at the plenary on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, he said that eight people were allegedly killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed with over three thousand people displaced in Bisaula and Gwanda communities recently, following the communal clash between the two ethnic groups.

He further said that the State Government and stakeholders in the affected communities have taken some steps to restore peace in the area.

He, however, added that there is still tension in the affected communities.

Fuoh said, “The communal clashes have resulted in the displacement of millions of the people who are currently taking refuge in Baissa, Didan, Sabon Gida Tukura, as they lack adequate resources to cater for the refugees from neighbouring states as well as those from Cameroun.

“Taraba State is overwhelmingly overstretched as it is currently camping over 250,000 Internally Displaced victims of attacks and killings by armed bandits and militants from the neighbouring states. If the Federal Government fails to intervene, the crisis in Kurmi Local Government Area may escalate despite efforts of the State Government.”

The House urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian agencies to deploy relief materials to the displaced persons and victims of the communal crisis.