Benue IDPs return home

AT last, social and commercial activities have begun to pick up in some areas attacked by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

Recalled that some parts of the State, particularly, Logo and Guma were severally attacked since the New Year day leading to the death of hundreds of people and over 180,000 displaced.

But the tour of some of the communities in Logo local government on Monday with the force commander of Operation Whirl Stroke shown that thousands of displaced persons have returned to their ancestral homes.

The state government had announced that about 200,000 persons were.displaced in the.wake of series of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state, since New Year day.

The force commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini during the tour told on Monday that about 150,000 displaced persons have returned to their ancestral home.

Some of the communities visited are; Anyin Jootar, Iorza, Cheme and Ukemberega all in Gaambe-Tiev council ward visited.

At NKST primary school camp in Logo LGA 20,000 of the 27, 000 refugees have returned home.

Chairman of the local government Richard Nyajo praised the effort of the federal government in deploying the troop whom he noted have done tremendously in restoring peace in the area.

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He called for the sustenance of the operation to ensure that all refugees returned safely to their homes.

Also, chairman, Gwer West local government Francis Nyaga also, collaborated his counterpart stating that over 33,000 out of 34,000 refugees in his domain have returned.

He, however, appealed to the Federal government to assist the IDPs to return home and start life again.

However, General Yekini disclosed that over 150, 000 out of 180,000 displaced persons in Benue State have returned home, promised that by December 2018, all internally displaced person would have returned home.

“You can see for yourself that what we have been telling you during press conferences are not lies, over 150,000 IDPs have returned home.

“We will not relent in ensuring that all IDPs in the state return home. My men are equal to the task. We hear that the Fulani come during the dry season, we will be here waiting for them.

The Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security Col. Paul Hemba who was on the tour lauded the achievements recorded by the OPWS and pledged government unrelenting effort in providing logistics to support the troop.