News

ROCI Appeals To Presidency For Urgent Intervention On Displaced Udege Communities


The Restore Our Communities Initiative (ROCI), a non-partisan citizens' advocacy group, has appealed to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, to facilitate urgent federal intervention towards the safe return, reconstruction and sustainable security of communities displaced by the February attacks in Udege Area Administrative Council of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

In a letter dated June 26, 2026 and addressed to the presidential aide, the Initiative expressed concern over the continued displacement of residents of Akyawa-Baka, Gidan Ogiri (Sabon Gida), Ittara, Udegen Ƙasa and Apura Adagba, noting that the victims have remained away from their ancestral homes for about five months due to persistent insecurity.

According to ROCI, the attacks resulted in the loss of more than one hundred lives, the destruction of over three hundred houses, and the loss of farm produce worth millions of naira, in addition to other valuable property. The group stated that Akyawa-Baka, Gidan Ogiri and Ittara were among the communities most severely affected by the violence.
While appreciating Dr. Essiet for her working visit to the affected communities in March, the group said her visit gave hope to victims and demonstrated the concern of the Federal Government for their plight.

However, the Initiative expressed disappointment that the committee reportedly proposed during the visit to coordinate peacebuilding efforts, facilitate interventions and document victims' losses has yet to be inaugurated. It also noted that building materials requested to assist victims in rebuilding their destroyed homes have not been provided.

ROCI observed that many displaced families, whose primary occupation is farming, remain scattered across host communities under difficult conditions and have been unable to cultivate their farmlands as the farming season progresses.

The group further alleged that abandoned farmlands in the affected communities are being extensively grazed by cattle, while movements of armed Fulani herders within and around the affected areas continue to generate fear among displaced residents. It also cited reports of isolated attacks on farmers in neighbouring communities and incidents of motorcycle theft allegedly perpetrated by criminal elements.

According to the Initiative, about fifteen persons have reportedly been killed or injured in separate security incidents since the visit of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule to the area, while no fewer than seven motorcycles have allegedly been stolen within the axis, further heightening insecurity.

ROCI warned that the prolonged displacement of the affected communities poses serious threats to food security, worsens poverty and undermines public confidence in government's ability to protect vulnerable citizens.
The group therefore appealed to Dr. Essiet to use her office to draw the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, to the urgent need for coordinated measures aimed at restoring security, rebuilding the affected communities and facilitating the safe, dignified and permanent return of displaced residents.

Among its recommendations, ROCI called for the immediate inauguration of the proposed intervention committee, the provision of building materials and other humanitarian assistance to victims, and the strengthening of security architecture within the affected communities.

The Initiative also advocated the establishment of permanent police stations in Udenin Gida, Udegen Ƙasa and Akyawa-Baka, alongside increased deployment of security personnel and sustained patrols to inspire confidence among returning residents and guarantee lasting peace.

Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful engagement, ROCI emphasized that its advocacy remains strictly non-partisan and is motivated solely by the desire to see displaced families return safely to their homes, rebuild their lives and resume their legitimate means of livelihood.

The group expressed optimism that with timely intervention by the Federal and Nasarawa State Governments, the prolonged displacement of the affected communities can be brought to an end and hope restored to thousands of victims.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

News

Image
FMC Keffi Seeks Help In Identifying Unconscious Road Accident Victim The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, has called on members of the public to help identify an unconscious patient currently receiving treatment at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. According to a statement signed by Aminu Usman Sarki, on behalf of the Head of Public Relations and Protocol, the patient, identified as Sanusi Abass, a middle-aged man, was brought to the hospital around 2:00 p.m. yesterday by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) after a road traffic accident along the Keffi–Abuja expressway. Mr. Sarki disclosed that while the patient is showing signs of improvement, he remains unconscious and unable to communicate any personal details or next of kin information. Members of the public who may recognize the patient or have information about his family are urged to contact the hospital’s Public Relations Office or visit the Accident and Emergency Department for fur...
Read more

NEWS

Image
Public Outcry Trails Arrest of Barr. Dauda Yahaya Kana in Keffi by Kano Police Operatives  Legal Community, Civil Society Demand Immediate Release Amidst Allegations of Intimidation A wave of outrage and condemnation has followed the arrest of Barrister Dauda Yahaya Kana, a legal practitioner in Keffi, Nasarawa State, by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from Dala Division in Kano State. The arrest, reportedly carried out at the behest of Hon. Mohammed Lawali, is linked to an ongoing land dispute—a matter already before a Nasarawa State court and under investigation by the Keffi Police Command. Observers are baffled by the extrajudicial nature of the arrest, especially considering that the land in question is situated in Angwan Kare, Keffi, and all legal proceedings and investigations are ongoing within Keffi jurisdiction. “I don’t know if jurisdiction actually means anything in the Nigerian Police lingo,” one commentator remarked online. “But someone needs to exp...
Read more

News

Image
Tension Still In Udege-Mbeki As Missing Young Man’s Body Is Found In Paddock Lake The body of Abdulmalik Adamu Beki, a young man from Udege-Mbeki community in Nasarawa State who had been missing since Sunday night, has been discovered at a popular old lake known as Paddock. Abdulmalik was declared missing after he reportedly left his friends at a mining site late Sunday night and did not return. His disappearance had sparked concern among residents and fellow youths in the community. His remains were later found at Paddock, an old lake said to have been excavated over a century ago by a previous mining company. Historically, the lake served as a reservoir and processing point for washing columbite, tin, and other solid minerals explored in the area during early mining operations. However, the discovery of his body has heightened tension in the community. Some residents, particularly youths, have raised suspicions over the circumstances surrounding his death. They contend th...
Read more