RE: NASARAWA BASSA MILITIA INVADE TOTO LGA, DISPLACE COMMUNITIES

My attention has been drawn to a press statement made by the Egbura National Development Association (ENDA) and published by the Sun News dated 20th May 2018 on its online version captioned as above.
I wish to begin this piece of writing with the words of Shehu Usman Danfodiyo which goes “Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it”.

In today’s world, TRUTH has become a mirage, and everybody goes about telling lies as long as it brings him/her benefits even to the detriment of his/her fellow kinsmen, knowing full well that lies do not bare ripe fruits.

The aspiration of every student in any course of study is to become a professor due to the dignity and prestige which comes with this ranking in education.

Hence, a prof. should be no less than a role model to all and sundry in the society he lives and even beyond.

What caught my attention in the press statement issued by the Egbura National Development Association (ENDA) is not it’s Bourne malice against the Bassa extraction in some of it’s prayers made to the government, but that the two professors in persons of Ibrahim Aguye and Yusuf Aboki who represent the association as its National President and Secretary respectively threw their weights behind this mendacity and callousness or else, how would you explain the phrase “The ENDA leaders petitioned the Governor to reverse the ‘provocative’ decision of Bassas to indiscriminately settle in Ugya irrespective of where they were before 1997 crises”? as if the Bassa man does not have the right choose where to settle and live.

In a world and era of globalization, in which people and communities are constantly coming together rather than disintegrating, it is extremely mischieveours for a prof. to make such prayers. This is hatred and hypocrisy of the highest order.

In an Egbura Led Administration in Toto LGA, which cannot provide and maintain common motorized boreholes for Bassa residents in Ugya, talk more of basic primary health care facilities or dispensaries, I doubt will go into Bassa interior villages to provide basic education.

We are not against Egburas settling anywhere they choose to be it Toto, Shafa, Umaisha or any other place. But they shouldn’t dictate to us or pressure government to tell us where or how to live! It is enough of this so called superiority complex.

It is also sad and hypocritical for professor Aguye and his lieutenant professor Aboki to have accused the so called Bassa militia of burning down their communities. If I may ask the two dons, where were they when Egburas were killing Bassas and burning their dwelling abodes?

THE CHRONICLE OF EVENTS
For the purpose of history and good record keeping, let me kindly refresh our memories by stating the events as follows; chronicled by Bassa Cultural and Development Union (BCDU) in a press statement dated 14th May 2018.
Paragraph (4 and 5) Egbura militia attack Bassa and burn their villages.
Paragraph (9) Egbura militia mount road blocks and kill Bassa on sighting them.
Paragraph (10); On 2nd May 2018 all houses belonging to Bassa were burnt down.
Paragraph (13): GENESIS OF THE CRISIS: On 22nd April 2018, Egbura attacked Kpanche village in Bassa LGA of Kogi state, killing at least six (6) Bassa people
Paragraph (14); On the same 22nd April 2018, Egbura militia abducted and killed two (2) Bassa youths in persons of Ephraim Moses Gunu and Manasseh Moses Gunu all of same parents.
Paragraph (15); The case of the abducted youths was reported to the authorities concern viz:
Prince Nuhu Dauda – Chairman IMC Toto LGA
HRH Usman Abdullahi Ohimege Opanda, Umaisha
D.P.O. Police Divisional HQ. Toto
Paragraph (16); On 23rd April, 2018 Egbura militia attacked Sebu and Kpana two different Bassa villages.
Paragraph (17); On 24th April 2018, news filtered into Ugya about the carnage in Sebu and Kpana, while the Bassa were on flight, Josiah Musa was killed by Egbura militia who had already blocked the major roads.

In a nutshell, the alleged burning of Egbura communities by Bassa militia is nothing but a reprisal attack meant to checkmate the excesses committed by the Egbura militia as they launched their tribal crusade to sever and dissociate the Bassa from their ancestral homes.
Having made the above assertion, I would also like to stress without complicity that the Bassa are peace loving people and will go to any length to achieve it. We thereby call on the Egburas to do same.

If the Bassa are not peace loving, since our return to Toto LGA in June 2003 from forceful exile in March 1998, Egbura militia have killed about five (5) of our kinsmen and we have not retaliated in the least.

Secondly, in an election contested in Ugya on 22nd March 2014 between Hon Ibrahim Mohammed Aguma of the Bassa and Hon. Mohammed Baba Yahaya (Ada Keke) from the Egbura, and which was won by the former in a landslide victory, was hitherto manipulated to give the latter victory yet the Bassa remained calm in the face of such unwarranted provocation. The record is there and speaks for itself. Imagine what would have happened if a Bassa was the culprit?

A NOTE OF WARNING
It is said that to forewarn is to forearm.
I am not trying to spew war rhetorics, but it is high time the Egburas understand that if you don’t live in peace, you will definitely leave in pieces and injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. You cannot exile the entire Bassa Communities in Toto LGA and then expect to live unperturbed.

So it goes without saying that the Bassas cannot live peacefully if they were to exempt or expel the Egburas from the entire Toto LGA, and the same goes for the Egburas
He, who lives by the gun, will die by it and he, who treats others unjustly, will be treated unjustly by others.

THE WAY FORWARD
As civilized human beings, we should embrace the path of peace by dialoguing together and negotiating our differences. We can do so if we take off the sentimental garb of my tribe is superior to yours thing and put on the robe of humanity which makes us all equal before God and the law.

The Prophet Muhammad (S) said “The white Skinned is not Superior to the black Skinned; nor is the Arab Superior to the non Arab”.

CONCLUSION
On a final note, we should select, elect or/and appoint unbiased, credible personalities and men of integrity into positions of authority to lead us and our beloved land.

It is no gain saying that the crises that has bedeviled our land is as a result of incompetency in leadership and negligence on the part of relevant authorities to take proper action as at when due.

We should desist from the “Sai ka yi” mentality to every politician who seeks our vote. Priority of choosing leaders should be based on humbleness, humility and the dedication of a candidate to address the issues facing the citizenry and general public.

Until and unless we do this, the much talk about peace which we seek, will remain an illusion which God forbid we will never achieve.

Thank you,

Jibreel Uthman Gimba

C/o Works Department
Toto LGC Secretariat
P.M.B 001,
Nasarawa state

Phone No. 07038502147

THE REIGN OF TERROR IN BASSA LAND; STOP THIS GENOCIDE! 14th May 2018

BASSA CULTURAL AND DEVELOPMENT UNION (BCDU)

PRESS RELEASE:

THE REIGN OF TERROR IN BASSA LAND; STOP THIS GENOCIDE!

14^th May 2018.

1.      Gentlemen of the press, we welcome you to this all-important press briefing.

2.      The Bassa people who are found in parts of Benue, FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states are peace loving people who have lived in peace and harmony with all their neighbours in all the places they live except the Egburas in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa state and recently, the Egburas in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi state.

3.      It is incumbent on us as the over-all body of the Bassa Nation to tell the world about the reign of terror and massacre unleashed on the Bassa People in the ongoing war in Toto Local Government Area Nasarawa state. Sadly, it does appear the government and all relevant bodies have strangely remained mute on the issue.

4.      It is over two weeks now since the crisis in Toto began, and the Bassa people have been consistently attacked by the Egbura hired mercenaries who parade themselves in military uniforms. These mercenary gang are often mistaken as military men by our people who as it were ought to provide security, but are used by Egbura militia to wreak havoc on the Bassa.

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5.      It is on record that during these attacks, the Egbura militias who are practically led by these mercenaries in Military uniforms from behind burn Bassa houses and loot their property at will. Most Bassa villages have been invaded and completely razed down by the Egburas using these men in military uniforms.

6.      We note with grave concern that military men who came supposedly to keep peace are now taking sides, they now go about chasing, shooting and killing our people in their settlements and allowing the Egburas a field day. The scenario is worrisome and gives serious doubts in the minds of our people and indeed the general public as to the true status of the supposed deployed military in Bassa Communities in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. We are constrained to believe that there are clear elements of bias which can be attributed to connivance and collusion between the Egburas and the law enforcement agents to completely extinct the Bassas. As we speak this genocide is ongoing in Ugya with the Military leading the attacks against the Bassa people.

7.      There is no gainsaying that the role and responsibilities of the Military and every law enforcement agencies in situations like this is that of neutrality geared towards restoring peace law and order, but that have unfortunately remained in the  realm of wish rather than reality. We are peaceful and law abiding people, with absolute trust in the institutions of authority, the Bassa people have high hopes in the military and other law enforcement agents and believes with good intentions are able to bring about peace and order.

8.      The military presence in Toto LGA ought to have been a sigh of relief to all parties but sadly not the case, our people are treated in high handedness like rebels and common criminals while the Egburas are given preferential treatment. As we speak, there is complete restriction of movement for the Bassas only, we have never heard of a restriction of movement order that is targeted at a particular race or tribe alone especially in a communal clash as this, the situation is bizarre.

9.      We have it on good authority that in all parts of Toto LGA, especially roads adjourning to other parts of FCT from Toto town to Abaji, and Kogi LGA is heavily mounted on roads blocks by the Egburas who at the point of sighting the Bassa, either pursued, shot or killed the Bassa at the supervision of some of this mercenaries is Military Uniform. The Egburas are going about with free movement to and from Toto, Umaisha and in all the villages carting away properties and food produce of the Bassas in their bans and in some cases further setting the bans are house ablaze without any confrontation or hindrance by the supposed military and security agents.

10.  It is on record that on the 2^nd of May, 2018, despite the perceived government security presence in Toto town, all houses belonging to the Bassa people were completely razed down by the militia at the supervision of its leaders. These are verifiable facts.

11.  We are calling on the world to come to the aid of the Bassa people and save us from the conspiracy that is now playing out.  Notwithstanding, we are yet urging the government to properly investigate these claims and ensure anyone found culpable in influencing the violation of the rules of engagement of the military is punished.

12.  It is ordinarily believed that by now the crisis should have come to an end but the trouble continue to fester due to the care free attitude regrettably shown on the side of the authorities to nib the matter in the bud.

THE GENESIS OF THE CRISIS:

13.  It was on the 22^nd of April, 2018 when the Egburas were reported to have attacked the town of Kpanche in Bassa LGA of Kogi State. The paramount ruler of the town (Kpanche) narrowly escaped death but not less than six persons lost their lives in the attack. Unknown to the general public some Egbura field militia commanders from Umaisha in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa state were said to have participated in the invasion of Kpanche town and were neutralized by the military. This incident was widely reported and the Military Command in Kogi State issued a press statement to that effect.

14.  The Egburas on the other hand having heard that their leaders have been “neutralized” by the Military planned a reprisal attack on the Bassa in Toto LGA who did not know what happened in Bassa LGA of Kogi state. On the same Sunday, 22^nd April 2018, the Egbura Kidnapped and killed two young Bassa boys who had gone to the farm at Sogene, a village near Umaisha. The children belonging to same parent Mr Moses Gunu were returning to Ugya after the farm work, they stood by the road including a woman who was also going to ugya. The driver asked them to pay N300 which the two boys paid but the other woman couldn’t pay as she had lesser amount. The woman who witnessed the incident narrated the story how the driver rather than driving towards Ugya took a U-turn to Umaisha, the boys were never seen again.

15.  The Kidnap of these boys was reported to local authorities and security agencies in Toto LGA including the IMC Chairman of Toto LGA Mallam Nuhu Dauda. The paramount ruler of the area, The Ohimege Opanda and the Toto Divisional Police Officer were also contacted. These authorities (especially the Police) went to Umaisha to investigate the matter and yet, could not secure the release of the kidnaped victims. These victims – Ephraim Moses Gunu and Manaseh Moses Gunu - have not been found till date and are therefore presumed to have been murdered.

16.  While still in the quagmire of these missing boys the Egbura militia attacked Sebu a Bassa village on Monday, 23^rd April, 2018. Subsequent they went on a killing spree to Kpana another Bassa settlement.

17.  By 5.30am on Tuesday, 24^th April, 2018, news filtered into Ugya that the Egbura militia had attacked the interior Bassa villages of Sebu and Kpana. Naturally, (as a self-preservation measure) Bassa residents of Ugya began to make concerted efforts to exit the town in order to preserve their lives. These attempts were unfortunately blocked by the Egbura who mounted road blocks along the major highway leading from Umaisha to Toto. At one of the road blocks in Ugya town, the Egbura militia hacked and killed a Bassa man named Josiah Musa. We are not against lawful road blocks aimed at curtailing further spread of violence, but such measures should not be targeted at certain group or tribe it must be done and seen to be done in all fairness not as in the current situation we have so far highlighted.

THE PERSONAE DRAMATIS OF THE CRISIS:

18.  The most shocking component of this crisis is the fact that the traditional rulers as well as the political office holders from this Local Government Area have kept mum from the inception of this crisis to date giving us the impression that they could be responsible for this genocide since they are all of the Egbura extraction. These leaders in the persons of: Arc. Ja’afaru Mohammed-Ibrahim – currently a member of the House of Representatives he is an Egbura man, representing Toto/ Nasarawa Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi – current Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly Hon. Saidu Galadima – current Member, Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency. He is the Chairman of the House Committee on local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Nuhu Dauda, is presently the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Toto local government. They are expected to have made strong statements condemning the killings and arson but rather in their full glare the burning of Bassa Houses in Toto town, Ugya and other major Bassa settlements in broad day light. The Ohimege of Opanda, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the traditional ruler of Umaisha and the chairman traditional council Toto Local Government has also refused to speak as a father. Hence the crisis perpetuates.

19.   For emphasis, we wish to reiterate that beyond the attacks, killing and sacking of Bassa and their villages, all the roads leading to Toto, Ugya, Umaisha, and Ayewawa are currently being blocked and manned by the Egbura militia claiming to be vigilante groups who stop and search vehicles as well as motorcycles thereby killing anyone identified to be of the Bassa extraction. As at the time of writing, over 20 Bassa men and women have been killed on these road blocks in the past seven (7) days. This callous act must stop!

20.  These militias have found their way into Koton Karfe, Tawari and Gegu axis in Kogi LGA of Kogi State were Bassa people  are murdered in cold blood on daily basis via these road blocks. 

EXTENSION OF THE CRISIS BY EGBURA

21.   The current war in Toto is a replica of what happened in the past especially in 1997 when the Bassa were sent into forced exile. The Egbura believe they are rich, well connected and have military personnel to wreak havoc and go scout free. But it is imperative to note that from time immemorial the Egbura have been the cause of every crisis in Toto LGA.

22.  We wish to draw the attention of the world to the event of 2014 when the Ohiogba of Mozum, Khalid A. Bukar made unprovoked but very inciting statements about the Bassa people which culminated into unwarranted but God-revealing outburst on his verified facebook account where he claimed that the Egbura of Mozum were superior to the Bassa people and further claimed that the Bassa people are nothing in terms of resources to fight war; in his words “who then is the Bassa Kwomu? They could not conquer the little one of panda in Toto LGA even when a Bassa Kwomu was a chairman in Toto.” He was referring to the 1997 genocidal activities they carried out in Toto Local Government.

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23.  In consonance with our position as presented herebefore B.K.M. Waters while exploring the riverine areas within Toto LGA in 1915 in his report made the following remarkable observation about the Egburas:

“If there is any crisis between the Bassa and Egbura in Umaisha and Toto districts, nine out of ten troubles are caused by the Egbura”.

24.   From the foregoing it is clear that the Egbura have the legendary history of trouble making, growing into a militia group was more like a natural occurrence for them.

25.  Gentlemen of the press, it is instructive to note here that, there are clandestine moves by the egburas and their leaders to attach religion in the ongoing crisis. This is no religious crisis but an act of ethnic cleansing targeted at the Bassa people, we condemn it.

 ,                                            Our Clarion Call:

1.      Unbiased Security personnel to be deployed to Toto, to dismantle road blocks, stop incessant attacks on the Bassa and guarantee free flow of movement to all and sundry.

2.      A Judicial panel of inquiry to be set-up with immediate effect.

3.      Meeting of stake-holders from both Bassa and Egbura should be held as quickly as possible.

4.      A Military Base should be established between Toto and Umaisha axis to checkmate these constant unwarranted attacks by the militia.

5.      The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency President Muhamadu Buhari, international communities, Donor Agencies, NGOs, NEMA, SEMA as well as well meaning individuals to quickly come to the aide of our people who have been rendered refugees in their own land.

6.      His Execellency Alh. Tanko Al Makura, Governor of nasarawa State should visit Toto LGA with immediate effect and invite the two warring parties for a dialogue.

7.      Before the Bassa home return, government should set up IDP camps for the refugees, where the governor and relevant agencies will visit forthwith.

26.  As a body we have confidence in the government and trust that drastic and appropriate measures will be taken to end this senseless killing of our people.

27.  We also wish to stress here that we are peace loving people and will do all that it takes to ensure that peace is restored in the LGA but any attempt to exile the Bassa people from Toto LGA by the Egburas will be resisted with everything it may require in accordance to law.  We a right to be protected; It is our land.

28.  May God restore peace to our Land.

29.  Long Live Bassa Nation!

30.  Long Live BCDU!!

31.  Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

32.  Thank you all.

Signed:

National President.

   National Secretary .                                                                       National Publicity Secretary

IGP Idris reveals only solution to herdsmen/farmers’ clash in Nigeria

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that the only genuine solution to herdsmen/farmers crisis in some parts of the country is through dialogue.

IGP Idris said this at the public launch of his book titled: ‘Security and Justice: The pathway for peace and reconciliation in Nigeria’, in Lagos while appealing to Nigerians to shun inciting statements and stop playing politics with crisis.

Idris disclosed that he was personally in Benue State to discuss reconciliation moves with the parties involved, adding that the responses had, so far, been encouraging.

The IGP said: “The challenges we are having with these herdsmen have gone down. In Benue, we have 15 Police units on ground and I have been monitoring their successes. I was in Benue and we have been having stakeholders’ meetings, we have been discussing.

“Based on this, people have been coming openly to state their problems and it is through these means that we can understand each other and reconcile our differences.

“The role of traditional rulers in this reconciliation process cannot be over emphasised because most of them have the ears of their people. When you have political disagreement in these communities, these traditional rulers are handy.”

He explained that the reason for writing the book was in recognition of the Nigeria Police as the nation’s core law enforcement agency which is constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of preventing and detecting crime, apprehension and prosecution of offenders, preservation of law and order.

“I have watched with troubled heart the security challenges confronting this country. The challenges of Boko Haram in the North East, the challenges of kidnappings and armed robberies, cattle rustling and militancy in virtually all parts of Nigeria.

“The farmers/herders clashes, the challenges of assassination for various reasons, the challenges of conflicts among the divergent communities which often times take dangerous dimensions and occur along the fault lines of ethnic, religious, regional and political differences between the divergent groups and communities.

“These challenges if not properly managed at the pace we are going, coupled with inflammatory and inciting statements, will tear this country apart and drag us into an unending crisis

The Nigeria Senate declares IGP Idris 'Enemy of Democracy'

The Nigerian Senate has declared the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, an enemy of democracy following his refusal to honour an invitation to appear before the upper chamber for a third time not even once.

The lawmakers during plenary on Wednesday, 9th May, said Idris is not fit to hold public office in Nigeria and abroad.

Premium Times reports that the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, made the declaration after the Senate emerged from a closed door meeting where it deliberated on the non-appearance of the police boss.

“The Senate in a closed session/meeting deliberated on the non-appearance of the IGP to the senate to the plenary after a series of invitation. The Senate noted that this has been a gross disrespect to our constituted authority and to also know that his earlier refusal to appear before investigative committee was overruled by competent court of jurisdiction just in April this year.

“The Senate therefore views this persistent refusal is a great danger to our democracy and hence the Senate resolved to declare IGP as an enemy of democracy and not fit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria. The leader of the Senate would also mandate to look into the matter for further necessary action,” Senate President, Bukola Saraki made it public