Bali Killings: Tiv, Fulani Head for Truce

·      69 killed, 10,000 Displaced people without food, shelter  

·      How Benue Killings Caused Crisis in Bali

Efforts by government officials and community leaders  to restore peace in Tiv and Fulani communities in Bali Local Government are beginning to yield positive results as both warring groups has agreed for a peace meeting to end weekend killings that claimed about 69 lives and displaced over 10,000 residents of the communities.

The Executive Chairman of Bali Local Government, where the crisis happened, Prince Musa Mahmud assured that the crisis will soon be over and the people will be allow to go back to their homes.

 

Sources said the leaders of the Fulani and Tiv communities and the security agencies are billed for a peace talk to end the crisis and adopt proactive measures to stop future reoccurrence.

 

"Since Sunday after the leaders pledge to work towards living in peace with each other, based on a peace process being worked out by the council Chairman and other stakeholders, the killings has stopped. So there is peace insight."

 

The crisis started after nine Fulani of Bali origin were earlier murdered in Benue, which sparked off the crisis in the Local Government.

 

"The leaders of Fulani in Taraba State and Bali, in particular Dahiru Hassan, should be commended for standing firm to ensure that the crisis did not escalate beyond what we witnessed.

"Till this moment we thank God for the Ter Tiv Bali, Zaki David Gbaa, Fulani Ardos (chiefs) and security agencies who made efforts to quickly bring the situation under control.

 

"Though the situation is under control, those who fled the attacks are suffering untold hardships in the camps and government should make efforts to support them," the source said.

 

The Council Chairman  said  that government would make efforts to end the crisis and ensure the quick return of the IDPs  to their homes to enable them farm during the raining season.

 

"I have initiated a peace move between the two ethnic groups and soon all those displaced will return to their homes to continue with their normal lives.

 

"We are making efforts to send food to the IDPs, but most importantly I am taking steps to prevent a reoccurrence of crisis in the local government. 

 

"In the days ahead, we will hold a security meeting with all the traditional rulers and security agencies to map out strategies that would prevent any outbreak of crisis in this area."

 

THE Chief of Tiv in Bali Zaki David Gbaa (Ter Bali II)  said "It is unfortunate that the problem started in Benue State where some Fulani people were killed by hoodlums and the Fulani in Bali Local Government Area in Taraba started killing my people.

 

"We are not from Benue and we know nothing about the killing of Fulani in Katsina-Ala Local Government in far away Benue State as being alleged. So, why are we being killed for something we know nothing about?

 

"This is rainy season and nearly 10,000 people, mainly farmers, have been displaced. This is an omen of an impending hunger," he said.

 

 A leader  in the IDP Camp Matthew Baki lamented the poor condition of the displaced people saying they lack food, water and shelter.

 

 "We have more than 6000 people in the camps so  in the interim, the people want to see food on their table before they can take the assurances of their quick return to their homes seriously.

"Even if the people are made to go back now, how would they cope with the rains after their homes have been burnt? 

 

"We want to see the food first, then we can begin to discuss how the people can be assisted to make temporarily shelter pending when they can rebuild their homes,"