By Amos Aar
THE LEADERSHIP of the United Farmers Association, Kadarko (UFAK), Nasarawa State, has appealed to the governments of Nasarawa and Benue states to facilitate the return of persons displaced by the June 13, 2025 attack on Yelwata, to enable them to celebrate Christmas with their families in Kadarko.
Speaking with journalists in Kadarko on Thursday, shortly after a meeting with internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering at the Kadarko Primary School, UFAK President, Chief Dennis Utsa Gbongbong, said the displaced persons had pleaded for the return of their relatives ahead of the festive season.
Gbongbong commended the Benue State Government for accommodating and catering for the displaced persons at the Makurdi International Market IDP camp, but noted that the camp had become overcrowded, stressing that life at home was “better and more conducive.”
“Sometime in June 2025, there was an invasion on Yelwata. The incident affected both communities of Kadarko and Yelwata because of their proximity. As a result, the farmers deserted their homes and fled to take refuge in Benue and Nasarawa states,” he said.
He explained that although Kadarko was not directly attacked when neighbouring Yelwata was invaded on June 13, resulting in the massacre of over 200 people, the community was severely affected.
“Kadarko was also adversely affected because most residents felt safer sleeping in Yelwata while carrying out their daytime activities in Kadarko. So, when the herders got the information, they traced them and killed them there in Yelwata,” he added.
Gbongbong said that while peace was gradually returning to the area, it had not been fully restored, insisting that it was time for the displaced persons to come back home.
“We have seen the return of peace, although the peace has not fully returned. It is high time for our people to return home. We are appealing to the governments of Nasarawa and Benue states to give attention to the IDPs and bring them back to enjoy Christmas at home in Kadarko,” he said.
The UFAK president disclosed that the association had written to the Nasarawa State Government through the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), which had visited the community and captured the data of displaced persons.
“Those ones in the IDP camps have already been captured because they are properly documented there. We have fourteen thousand, seven hundred and eighteen (14,718) IDPs in the organised camps in Benue who are of Nasarawa origin, especially from Kadarko, Giza, Keana, Obi, Doma and other places, and they are supposed to come back,” Gbongbong stressed.
He further explained that upon their return from the Makurdi International Market camp, the IDPs would be temporarily accommodated in Kadarko pending the full restoration of peace in their communities, adding that the environment at the Makurdi camp had become unhealthy due to the large population.
Gbongbong also appealed to the Nasarawa State Government to protect and care for the displaced persons, noting that Governor Abdullahi Sule may not have been adequately briefed earlier by relevant authorities, including the local government leadership and traditional institutions in Kadarko.
“We appreciate the governor for beginning to show concern now that he has received briefs directly from us” the said.
According to him, many of the displaced persons were willing to return but lacked the means to do so and asked for the state governments’ assistance.
“They are willing to come back, but some of them have the challenge of how to move. When they were going to Makurdi, it was easy, but coming back is difficult. So, we appeal to the government to provide mobility to facilitate their return to Kadarko to enjoy Christmas with dignity,” he said.
The also disclosed that there were rumours of planned attacks on Kadarko by armed herders, but said security had been reinforced to protect the people, while calling for increased security presence in the interior communities, noting that about 200 people had been sacked from their homes.
He further requested the provision of shelter and bedding materials for the IDPs, pointing out that the Kadarko Primary School currently hosting them was overstretched.
“What is very challenging here is that those who have started returning do not even have mats or blankets. We are appealing to the Nasarawa State Government to look at these people as human beings. What has happened to them can happen to anybody. They did not commit any crime; it was because the government failed to protect them,” he lamented.
“We are calling on the government to set up a decent place for the IDPs to stay pending when arrangements will be concluded to return them permanently to their ancestral homes,” Gbongbong added.
In separate comments, the coordinator of the Hausawa group in Kadarko, Asamau Lawal; Maria Orogu of the Alogo community; Zaki Dominic Uselegh of Giza; a Kadarko resident, Mr Donald Ahangba; and several others all echoed the call for the return of the displaced persons to enable them celebrate Christmas with their loved ones in Kadarko.
