After enduring years of displacement, the Bassa community and other affected persons from Toto Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State have finally returned to their ancestral homes, marking a significant milestone in their long journey toward stability and restoration.
Welcoming the returnees at Government Secondary School (GSS) Ugya on the 10th of February, 2025 the Executive Chairman of Toto LGA, Pharm. Ahmed Baba Yahaya—represented by his deputy, Hon. Atnadu Sunday Yakubu—reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to working with relevant agencies to sustain peace in the region.
“Anyone found attempting to disrupt the peace efforts or threatening the harmony of this area will face the full force of the law,” he sternly warned.
Stressing the value of peaceful coexistence, he added, “Peace is invaluable and non-negotiable. We must continue to pray and tolerate each other, despite our differences.”
Pharm. Yahaya urged the Bassa and other communities to remain united, emphasizing that a harmonious environment is essential for the region’s progress. He pledged to boost agricultural development and attract investments that would harness Toto LGA’s natural resources for the collective benefit of its people.
Additionally, he called on the populace to rally behind Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration and its developmental initiatives. The chairman also lauded the 177 Guards Battalion, other security agencies, and HRH Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimege of Opanda, for their relentless efforts in maintaining peace and fostering intercommunal harmony.
HRH Aguma Bassa, Dr. David Tukura, in his address, expressed deep gratitude to Governor Sule for facilitating the return of the displaced persons.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the council chairman, traditional and religious leaders, and security agencies, assuring that the Bassa community would remain law-abiding, respect authorities, and promote peaceful coexistence.
The event saw the presence of key stakeholders, including the council secretary, members of the resettlement committee, and officials dedicated to ensuring a seamless reintegration process for the displaced persons.
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This historic homecoming is the result of decades of efforts to resolve a protracted conflict. The origins of the crisis date back to a land dispute between the Gbagyi and Bassa ethnic groups in Kudu village, Toto LGA, which escalated into violent communal clashes, claiming countless lives and shattering the region’s tranquility.
Since 1986, the agrarian communities of Toto LGA have been caught in a vicious cycle of unrest, with each eruption of violence bringing destruction, displacement, and despair. For nearly 40 years, the region has witnessed multiple waves of conflict, each more devastating than the last. However, in 2019, the Nasarawa State government took a decisive step by establishing a legal framework aimed at fostering dialogue and reconciliation between the warring factions.
Now, with their long-awaited return, the people of Toto stand at a pivotal moment—one that offers hope, renewal, and the possibility of a peaceful future.