Association of Aliwe Daughters, a Tiv NGO, based in Abuja has called on the Federal Government to create a commission to cater for the rebuilding of the Middle Belt region.
The President of the association, Mrs Irene Awunah-Ikyegh made call in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The association president said that the commission was necessary if truly the Federal Government was truly committed to rebuilding the region particularly Benue, which was affected by the recent farmers/herdsmen clash.
NAN recalls that the recent farmers/herdsmen clash claimed several lost of lives and property while thousands were displaced from their homes and communities.
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on May 15 visited the camp of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to identify with them and disclosed the plan by the Federal Government to rebuild the region with huge amount of money.
According to the association president, the attacks which started as far back 2011, have greatly affected the socio economic lives of the people in Benue.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government to demonstrate sincere commitment to rebuilding the ravaged Middle Belt by establishing a dedicated commission as done for Niger Delta and North East.
“The level of damage in the Middle Belt is so huge that those places need a commission, ” Awunah-Ikyegh said.
The association president said that the only way the families of those who died in the attack could be rebuilt was to empower those they left behind.
“Member of the families who lost their lives in the attack should be given automatic employment in the commission to be created.’’
She said that the Federal Government must prove that its intervention to rebuild the Middle Belt region was a genuine one to save humanity instead of playing politics with the people of the region.
“More important is for the government to ensure security, stability and safe return of those displaced from their homes.
“They should be provided with incentives to fully engage in farming activities with a view to bouncing back economically,” she said.
