Plateau Communities: How Fulani militia’s attacks left over 100 people blind

NEW TELEGRAPH

The level of insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria, especially in parts of Plateau State, has left many communities devastated in several ways. MUSA PAM, in this investigative report, takes a look at how the attacks have left many blind and some visually impaired

Plateau State in North Central Nigeria is one state that has endured varied kinds of attacks in Northern Nigeria, from communal crisis, to herder’s farmer’s clashes, to banditry and all forms of criminalities. These attacks have left its marks in the various communities were they happen, with many people being thrown into Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDP) and many others having life threatening injuries and others permanent disability.

 A New Telegraph investigation has revealed that over 100 blind and visually impaired individuals are some of the worst affected persons as a result of the incessant attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen and bandits in some communities of Bassa Local Government Area of the state. Apart from the difficult living conditions of blind persons which cut across all ages, there are also alarming indications that the number of affected persons keep increasing based on research by some Non-government organisations.

NGO wades in

A non-profit (NGO), based in Jos, Highflow Channels, which works in areas and communities affected by violent conflicts to provide relief and intervention services to victims, said the plight of blind persons requires a more strategic, multi-facet approach for appropriate intervention, considering that if the majority of them became blind due to illness then the entire population might be at risk of being hit by blindness over time. Executive Director, Highflow Channels, Rev. Gabriel Makan, while speaking to journalists stated that in the course of their work in the Irigwe Chiefdom (Miango Area), Bassa LGA of Plateau State, the plight of the visually impaired as part of the vulnerable population was brought to their attention.

 “These persons have equally been severely impacted by the attacks in the affected communities in psycho-social and physical ways. Much more disturbing is that when we set out to gather data about them, we were alarmed by the huge number of blind people across age brackets among the Irigwe community in Bassa LGA, over 100 persons, men, women and children. “We are working in collaboration with experts in the field of Community Medicine, Ophthalmology, Community development, and relevant government agencies, and other local or international organisations with similar objectives, to conduct more in-depth research, as well as proffer short, medium, or long-term solutions. 

“Previous intervention projects in collaboration with International Christian Concern and Creative Associates International in North Central (Middle Belt), North West and North East states of Nigeria include direct food/clothing to IDPs, agricultural (farming support – communal/family, emergency medical aid to victims, Resettlement (Homes Rebuild), vulnerable children education support, trauma healing services.” However, interview with some of the impaired victims in Miango, Bassa LGA, highlighted some of the challenges and ordeal they have had to endure.