Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku, on Wednesday disclosed that 264 persons were confirmed to have been killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed during the 2017/2018 crisises on the Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna local government area of the State.
Ishaku, who regretted the casualty figure, however, said: “The Assessment Committee which visited 53 communities in the area, discovered that 264 people were killed and not the over 1000 as reported by the media.”
He added that “209 residents were displaced, 19,464 cattle, 6071 sheep killed while a tea processing plant, among other valuable properties were burnt.”
The governor gave the sum of N310 million to the victims. He presented Cheques to beneficiaries Wednesday. Relief materials were also donated to alleviate their sufferings.
The reliefs were given in Gembu -the headquarters of Sadauna, through the Crisis Victims Support Scheme phase one, which was introduced by the governor.
“I am not here to compensate the victims of the crisis that occurred here on Mambila Plateau. Government does not have enough to compensate you on how much you lost, left alone the number of human beings that were killed.
“I am here to support you so that you can start living relatively better; to also encourage you to coexist in harmony.”
The governor warned the people of Mambilla and Tarabans to “exercise restraint”, as he urged all to be law abiding and to always consult traditional rulers when there is confusion.
He also stated that the creation of chiefdoms in the area was a deliberate policy aimed at reducing tension.
Ishaku also called on people of the area to reciprocate the good gesture offered to them by people of Cameroon when they hosted them during their difficulties, by accommodating them now that they (Cameroon citizens) are seeking refuge in Nigeria.
He also hailed Alike Dangote for donating N50 million relief funds for the victims and promised to use the funds to build a Health Centre in the crisis area.
Taraba state deputy governor, Haruna Manu, who led a committee to Cameroon to look into the issue of refugees, commended his principal for his efforts at solving the crises in the area.
He regretted the fact that while his committee was trying to reconcile the warring communities, another crisis erupted in March.
Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker, Abel Peter Diah, who is also Chairman of Sardauna Stakeholders Forum, warned that “much as we will not stop those from Cameroon from entering Nigeria, they must have respect for the laws of Nigeria.
