Plateau:Over 100 Blind People Worst Affected By Fulani Herders Attacks In Bassa
By Daniel Agada, Jos
Over 100 blind and visually impaired individuals are the worst affected as a result of incessant attacks by the suspected Fulani herders in some intrigued communities of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Daily Champion reports that apart from the hard living conditions of blind persons cutting across all ages, there are also alarming indications that their number keeps increasing findings revealed.
A non-profitable venture, based in Jos, under the aegis of 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 Irigwe rural population might be at risk of being hit by blindness over time.
Executive Director HighFLOW CHANNELS, Rev. Gabriel Makan while Speaking to newsmen stated that in the course of their work in Irigwe Chiefdom (Miango), Bassa LGA of Plateau State, the plight of the visually handicapped as a vulnerable population was brought to their attention.
In his words:”These persons have equally been severely impacted by the attacks in the intrigue communities – psycho-social and physical.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 just 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, Opthalmology, Community development, and relevant Government. agencies, and other local or international organizations with similar objectives, to conduct more in-depth research as well as profer 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, in an interview with our correspondent some of the impaired victims in Miango, Bassa LGA narrated their ordeal.
“My name is Adamu Gara.I hail from Chinye Village of Miango District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. I am married and we’re blessed with three (3) children. I haven’t always been blind. I experienced vision loss in 2017, that’s about 6 years ago. On that fateful day, I was trying to fix up a door at a building project site where I worked as a mason. I suddenly felt dust enter one of my eyes. Naturally, I began to rub my eye to get the dust out. But after a week the eye began to itch quite seriously to the point that they hurt.
“By the second week, the second eye also started to itch and hurt. Then the third week came by when I completely lost my sight. I went in search of intervention from different Hospitals and consulted several Doctors but all efforts to regain the use of my sight yielded no result.
“I live in constant fear of Fulani aggression which has troubled Irigwe Chiefdom over the last few years. Although my immediate community has not been attacked, we however can’t help to entertain fear that this is imminent, and if that happens, there’s no telling what the adverse impact would be on me and many others who are in the same condition as me.
“I appreciate God for being the source of our sustenance. My family and I are beneficiaries of donations both from spirited individuals and organizations. Apart from that, I also trained as a craftsman where I learned how to make aesthetic furniture. That has helped me to make some income that I use to support my family.
“I hope to someday set up a proper workshop where I can
