Nasarawa: 200,000 Displaced Bassa Indigenes Set to Return Home After Seven Years
More than 200,000 Bassa indigenes displaced from their ancestral homes in Toto Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, are preparing to return on February 10, 2025, seven years after being forced to flee due to conflicts with the Egbura ethnic group.
This long-awaited return follows multiple peace negotiations led by the Nasarawa State Government and security agencies to resolve the lingering dispute.
Government and Security Interventions
Speaking to journalists on Monday, February 3, 2025, the Acting Chairman of the Bassa Youth for Peace Coalition Forum, Joshua Gomina, confirmed the scheduled return.
He explained that the displacement began on April 22, 2018, following a violent communal clash between the Bassa and Egbura ethnic groups.
He praised the efforts of the state government, security operatives, and local government authorities in facilitating a resolution.
> “We are pleased to formally announce that Monday, February 10, 2025, has been scheduled for the return of the displaced Bassa communities in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,” Gomina stated.
Safe Return Plan for the Displaced Indigenes
The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has authorized the Commanding Officer of the 177 Guard Battalion in Keffi and the Chairman of Toto Local Government, Ahmad Yahaya, to oversee the safe return of the displaced persons.
Meeting Points for Returnees
To ensure an organized return, displaced persons will gather at specific locations based on their current places of residence:
Returnees from Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Lokoja will assemble at Kekeshi Village, Abaji Area Council, FCT, Abuja.
Returnees from Benue, Plateau, and Lafia will meet at Gunki Village, Nasarawa LG, Nasarawa State.
Call for Humanitarian Support
Gomina urged humanitarian organizations and government agencies to assist the returning communities. He specifically called on:
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
> “We call on all displaced individuals and families of the Bassa ethnic group in Toto LGA to prepare for their return. We also invite humanitarian organizations to provide necessary assistance,” he added.
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