Photo: Sun News Publishing
By: Mariam Aleshinloye Agboola, Jos
Date: Sat, 07/21/2012 - 22:21
Fulanis evacuated from their homelands following the recent crisis in parts of Plateau State have cried out to the authorities to take them back to their homes. The demand by the homesick Fulanis is coming barely few days after they were evacuated for safety. Already, no fewer than two births and one death have been recorded in the camps.
Beroms and the Fulanis are the two tribes affected by the evacuation exercise ordered to enable the Special Task Force on Jos crisis carry out military exercise in Barakin Ladi and Riyom local government areas where the crisis occurred. For the Beroms, going home has become a nightmare after losing so many lives including two prominent sons to constant raids by the gunmen.
For the Fulanis who said they were not aware that their kinsmen carried out the raid, going back to their villages is the best thing that can happen to them especially as the Ramadan is fast approaching. Following the evacuation of persons in the troubled five communities in the two local government areas, Fulanis have been kept in two camps. One is in Diayan Nomadic Primary school in Bashit district of Riyom local government area. About 140 persons who are in the camp are mainly from Shong 2 in Riyom local government area.
The other camp is Nomadic Primary school, Dogo in Gashish district of Barkin Ladi local government area. Most of the Fulanis numbering about 2000 are from Mahanga village. While the Dogo camp is about an hour drive from Jos, the route to Diayan is hilly and more than two hours drive from the capital city.
One of the refugees and a mother of two, Furairah Mohammad from Shong 2, insisted that despite the land dispute with the Beroms, there is no other home apart from Riyom where she lived with her family and other kit and kin. Though she was sad that all has not been rosy between them and the Beroms, she said that there is no other place she could call her home.
‘I grew up and had all my children in Riyom. Even though my husband goes far with the cattle for days and sometimes for weeks, he has always come back home to us in Shong.” She denied that her people were behind the killing of the Beroms, adding that all she knew was that the Beroms took some of their cattle and killed some that strayed into their farms. She said that efforts to recover what belong to them proved abortive. She told Sunday Sun that she had heard about some people creeping into Berom villages to kill them in their sleep but could not say who was responsible.
In her reasoning, it could be anybody; either some Fulanis or Beroms themselves but they are not Fulanis from her area because they do not kill. On their evacuation to the camp, Furairah said they were told that whoever remained in the village would have himself to blame for whatever happens to him or her.
“ They told us we will be here for only two days but it seems we will stay here far longer than that. Most of the children are getting sick. We do not have toilet and there is too much cold here. Already one woman is dead. “ We were told we will be here in the nomadic school for two days but from what we are seeing, we will be here for more than that and we do not have cooking utensils or even where to cook here. Already one person has died and ten others are in the hospital as a result of the extreme cold. Aisha Yakubu had died because of the rigour of moving from home to the camp and because they did not have enough food.”
Another woman, Asmau Usman also regretted leaving her home in Riyom because no one has been catering for their needs. She complained that they have been in hunger, thirst and exposed to mosquitoes as they have no nets. She also denied that they have been at war with the Beroms insisting that they have always lived apart adding that they only moved out of their abode because they were asked to do so. The two women refused to be photographed insisting that they do not take pictures. Later, Sunday Sun learnt that they did not want the pictures to be used against them.
The leader of the Fulanis who is known as the Ardo, Alhaji Idris Gidado also complained that they have been kept in very poor condition. He said most of the people were purging because they ate anything they could lay their hands on. He complained that the authorities have not been fair to them and alleged that the Beroms were receiving better treatment. He said that as Nigerians they should enjoy the same privileges as the Beroms.
He said that while they would like to cooperate with the government, they would prefer that the Special Task Force speeds up whatever it is doing in their villages. This is to enable them return to their homes to salvage their belongings that are getting spoilt.
Alhaji Idris said that because they have been staying in their nomadic schools, there was no place for them to cook even though they receive foodstuff from the Task Force. He confirmed that they do not have toilet facilities and had been defecating where they stay despite the attendant health hazards. Besides, their pregnant wives and children are exposed to mosquito bites and they sleep in dilapidated buildings and in the open air. He said that as the Ramadan fast is fast approaching, they would like to go back to their homes and take proper care of their meals.
The Ardo would however not comment on the problem between his people and the Beroms, saying that they are law-abiding citizens. He said that those who had been killing the Beroms do not reside with them, and urged the government to search elsewhere for the killers. He said that they agreed to leave their homes and stay in the camps to enable the military operation to take place.
The National Secretary of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Sale Bayare explained that the Fulanis chose to stay in their nomadic primary schools because they cannot stay in the same place with the Beroms. He alleged that the refugee camps allotted by the Plateau state government are located in the towns mostly populated by the Beroms pointing out that going into those camps was akin to sighing their death warrants.
Alhaji Idris said that initially, they did not receive the attention of the federal and state governments. According to him, it was after they cried out, that the authorities agreed to provide them with the relief materials. He said that it would have been difficult for others to come from neighbouring countries and villages to raid Berom lands if the state government had initially agreed to cooperate with the Fulanis residing in the state.
He confirmed that Fulanis had recorded one death and two births in the camp adding that the two deliveries were on Wednesday. Already, a medical doctor has been visiting the camp to treat the sick. Dr. Adamu Gambo who was seen treating them said most of them complained of malaria and diarrhea because they were eating all sorts of things and drinking untreated water. He said that his team has been managing the patients including the pregnant women while whatever is beyond them is referred to the STF clinic.
The STF commander, Major General Ayoola who received the relief materials assured that they would not be kept in the camp longer than necessary adding that they will return to their homes as soon as the military exercise is completed.
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