Refugee camps in Taraba state have run out of food

Life is becoming unbearable for Internally Displaced Persons in some camps in Taraba state who have said they have ran out of food and other basic necessities of life donated to them by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

Spokesman of the IDPs in Bali local government Mr. Emmanuel Chum while speaking to journalists in Bali commended NEMA for the food and other materials donated to them so far, but said they have run out of food and life was becoming unbearable for them.

There have been series of violent ethno-religious crises in the state in recent years particularly between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands others mainly in the central and southern parts of the state.

Emmanuel who said over 2,400 of them currently in four camps of NKST, Tiv Traditional Council Hall, Legislative Quarters and Catholic Church were forced out of their ancestral homes early last year by Fulani herdsmen lamented that they lacked food and other materials and life was becoming unbearable for them.

He added that they were tired of staying in camps without freedom to go their farms as any attempt to do so is being resisted by the attackers most of whom have taken over their land.

The spokesman called on government to provide security for them to return to their homes to continue with their farming life especially now that planting season is running out.

“Our major problem now is that we don’t have food to eat. The last time we were given relief materials was around February. Worst still, for over a year now, our children have not been to school and this is not good for their future,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that some of the IDPs resort to doing menial labour within Bali town to sustain themselves as the attackers are still laying siege on their lands in the hinterlands.

The call is coming at the time the Fulani herdsmen have resumed daily attacks in the neighbouring Gassol local government, killing seven persons so far and injuring dozen others despite frantic efforts by the state governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, to bring peace back to troubled communities in the state.