The people of Bagana community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State have sent a ‘save our souls’ message to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Corporate Organisations and public spirited individuals for assistance to aid their resettlement.
The community had consistently suffered from communal crisis that have rendered the natives refugees in their own ancestral home, as most of their houses have been raised by the fallout of the incessant clashes.
They appealed to all and sundry to donate both materials and financial resources to the ongoing resettlement process of the war torn community.
Making the appeal on Tuesday, the Chairman of the 11man Committee on Bagana crisis, Col. Suleiman Ahmodu Rtd said, it became necessary to give hope and confidence to the displaced, who are anxious of returning to their homes.
The Chairman noted that his committee which was constituted few weeks ago by the Executive Chairman of Omala LGC .Hon ( Chief). Ibrahim Aboh, swung into action, in the first place by reopening the popular market which was closed down for months in the wake of senseless killings and destruction of houses by the warring factions.
He said, the embattled internally displaced persons, who are eager to return home to pick up the remains of their properties, need the assistance of the Kogi State Government, and Federal Government through NEMA as the quantum of destruction is beyond reach of the people.
Col.Ahmodu rtd, popularly known as Babanawa, added that the humanitarian crisis posed by the level of destruction of property is beyond the capacity of individuals and the Local Government Council to cushion the effect, hence, the clarion call to the people’s Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, who is not oblivious of the crisis, to wade in by deploying financial and material resources to enable smooth return of the IDPs.
Col.Ahmodu Rtd, explained that the aim of the Committee is to reopen the market and to pave way for gradual returning of live in to the community before the rain sets in, would be defeated, if the people cannot find were to lay their heads, hence, the appeal for the Government to deploy resources for urgent rehabilitation.
He commended Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for his untiring efforts at seeing that the violence rocking the Bagana community is permanently resolved, even as he thanked the Chairman of Omala LGC, Hon.( Chief) Ibrahim Aboh for setting up the committee and promised to come up with workable solutions to the impasse.
He equally called on the affected people to sheath their swords, put behind them whatever challenges they would have encountered and embrace the ongoing peace process.
While appealling to all lovers of humanity across the country to donate handsomely to assist in the rebuilding process, Col Ahmodu Rtd called on the indigenes to ensure that the anticipated peace is sustained.
It would be recalled that Bagana community has been engrossed in internecine violence since 2013, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property , even as the people fled to neighbouring communities in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and FCT with attendant humanitarian crisis.