Hundreds of displaced Tiv Christians from Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State held a peaceful protest on Thursday, demanding justice and better living conditions after seven years in IDP camps. The group, now based in Mkar, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, said they fled communal violence in 2017 but have received little government support since. They called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and facilitate their safe return home. Many carried placards with messages like "We want justice" and "We are tired of suffering in IDP camps."
Protesters said they face worsening conditions, including lack of access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods. One IDP leader, Mr. John Terna, stated, "We have been in these camps for seven years without any meaningful intervention. We are not beggars, we want our lives back." The group also demanded prosecution of those responsible for the 2017 attacks that forced them to flee. Security agencies monitored the demonstration, which remained calm throughout the day. No government official responded publicly to the protest by day's end.
Seven years in displacement without resolution exposes the depth of state inattention to long-term IDP crises. Mr. John Terna and others speaking up are not asking for charity but accountability for a promise repeatedly made and never kept. For thousands of Nigerians in similar camps, this inertia means normalised neglect, not temporary hardship. A protest this prolonged in silence suggests the government hears only when pushed — and even then, rarely acts.
