264 persons died in Mambilla Plateau crisis, says Ishaku

Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku yesterday said 264 persons were confirmed dead and property estimated at billions of naira destroyed in the 2017/2018 crisis on the Mambilla Plateau in Sadauna Local Government Area.

Ishaku, who regretted the casualty figure, said: “The Assessment Committee, which visited 53 communities in the area, discovered that 264 people were killed and not the over 1,000 reported in the media.”

The governor said 209 residents were displaced, while 19,464 cattle, 6,071 sheep killed.

He added that “a tea processing plant, among other valuable property, were burnt”.

Ishaku donated N310 million to the victims.

The governor presented cheques yesterday to the beneficiaries.

Materials were also donated to reduce their suffering.

The materials were given at Gembu, the headquarters of Sadauna Local government Area, through the Crisis Victims Support Scheme Phase I, which the governor initiated.

Ishaku said: “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 co-exist in harmony.”

The governor warned Mambilla and Taraba residents to “exercise restraint”.

He urged all to be law-abiding and to always consult traditional rulers in case of a crisis.

Ishaku noted that the creation of chiefdoms in the area was a deliberate policy to reduce tension.

The governor advised the residents to reciprocate the good gesture Cameroonians offered them when they hosted them during their difficulties by accommodating them now that they (Cameroonians) are seeking refuge in Nigeria.

He also hailed the President of Dangote Group of Industries, Alhaji Alike Dangote, for donating N50 million to the victims.

Ishaku promised to use the funds to build a health centre in the crisis-hit area.