- Says clash not communal but coordinated attack by militia
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The social cultural group of the Bassa people, the Bassa Cultural and Development Association (BCDA) has condemned the attack on it people in Okudu community, saying resettling its people to their ancestral homes is one of the surest way to deny the criminals space to carry out their deadly act.
This was contained in a press statement on Thursday, and signed by the State Chairman of BCDA, Emmanuel Gbaji, a copy made available to newsmen in Lafia.
He said the recent attack on Bassa people in Okudu community, Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State was not a communal clash as allegedly tagged in some quarters, but a coordinated attack by some faceless militants, who are currently taking refuge in Toto forests to further execute their devilish mission.
Its categorically described as false and shocking, the news on social media that the attack on their people was a clash between the Gbagyi and Bassa over land dispute at Okudu.
“We, the Bassa community of Toto Local Government Area have received with deep shock, news of the attack on peaceful villagers of Okudu in Umaisha District of Toto Local Government Area
“The event demonstrates a callous disregard for sanctity of human life and a godless disdain for peaceful coexistence. We condemned the attack as a mindless work of miscreants masquerading as freedom fighters or opinion leaders.”
“The story of a ‘Gbagyi-Bassa Clash’ is totally false please. This report is both misleading and mischievous. We want to make it abundantly clear that there is no clash between Gbagyi and Bassa over any matter whatsoever.”
It said, right from time immemorial, the two ethnic groups have lived peacefully, saying that, “the Gbagyis are the closet cultural relatives of the Bassa and we have no history or record of conflict between us. What happened at Okudu was the hand work of criminals in which both Gbagyi and Bassa people were victims”.
The BCDA Chairman in the statement, also recalled how the aged long crisis have disrupted peace and tranquility in the area, saying that, “Toto Local Government has been embroiled in crisis since 1986 with violent clashes of various categories rattling the peace and tranquility of the largely agrarian community.
“After over seven (7) circle of crisis lasting thirty eight (38) years, with each circle involving a colossal loss of lives, destruction of property and wholesale displacement of persons.
“The Government of Nasarawa State in 2019, created a legal vehicle that would allow the warring communities to peacefully resolve their disputes. Discussion have commenced and age-old disputes are being examined and reexamined in an atmosphere of brotherly dialogue.
“Then out of the blue, the grapevine was abuzz with news of faceless militants hiding in our bushes and forests. While security agencies were monitoring the situation, we were awakened by the sound of murderous gunfire at Okudu. This is undoubtedly the handiwork of the well known and well advertised opponents of the ongoing peace talks,” the statement said.
While assuring the people and governments of their resolve to remain committed to peace of the area, the social cultural group then called on the state government to expedite action for the speedy resettlement of their people.
“We call on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule to continue to provide the necessary ambience for the ongoing peace talks.
“We must not be distracted. We reiterated our numerous calls for speedy resettlement of displaced persons.
“The current displacement of the Bassa community has created large swaths of uninhibited and ungoverned space. This has allowed criminals, bandits, kidnappers and murderous groups to hide in our now empty forest and villages.
“The resettlement of the Bassa community will deny these criminals the kind of space that allowed them perpetrate the beastly murders that took place at Okudu,” the statement said.