The Bassa tribe, who have been displaced from the Toto Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, have called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene and address their situation.

Comr. Abdullahi Shuaibu, the Acting Secretary of the National Bassa Youth Development Association, expressed their plea on Monday, highlighting the loss of lives and properties worth millions of Naira that the Bassa tribe has suffered due to the displacement.

Shuaibu expressed deep concern over the lack of adequate measures taken by the Nasarawa State Government, led by Governor Abdulahi Sule, to facilitate the safe return of the displaced individuals to their ancestral homes. He noted the absence of assistance, palliatives, or provisions for Internally Displaced Persons camps from the state government to support their plight. Despite efforts from the community’s leaders, elders, and youth representatives, engagement with the state government, local authorities, and relevant stakeholders has yielded no positive results. Shuaibu attributed this lack of progress to the political dynamics and approach adopted by the incumbent government concerning the return of the displaced Bassa community.

Shuaibu called upon the Federal Government and all relevant stakeholders to swiftly intervene and take action to enable the Bassa tribe’s return to their ancestral homes. He specifically addressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and other prominent figures, both within and outside the country, emphasizing the urgency of their intervention. Since the communal crisis began in April 2018 in the Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, the Bassa people have remained in exile, and it is crucial to address their plight promptly.