The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum,has made provisions for 90,000 internally displaced household at the sum of 275 million naira.
Zulum who supervised the disbursement and distribution of items to the abode of displaced people of the state expressed desire to do more.
Zulum, after interacting with the IDPs and returning refugees in Monguno on Friday, supervised the distribution of wrapper, sugar, and N5,000 each to 55,000 women, making a total of N275 million.
The Borno governor has sustained this tradition for three years as part of multi-faced efforts to cushion the effects and wreckage caused by Boko Haram attacks.
Through the intervention, the government also supports the people with livelihoods as they gradually transit into farming, micro, small, and medium scale businesses in order to eventually cater to themselves.
According to a statement released on Saturday by Zulum’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, the cash support has also been an effective tool in fighting Boko Haram’s ability to recruit spies from extremely poor and vulnerable communities.
The Borno State Government said that over seven hundred thousand people are currently displaced from their homes due to banditry and are now taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state
The figure comprised of over 184,000 and over 600,000 women and children.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, on Tuesday confirmed an attack on Abagena Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Makurdi by suspected herdsmen, that left seven persons dead and many others injured.
Ortom stated this when he visited the camp, where the IDPs were already protesting the attack by blocking the Makurdi-Lafia road.
The governor said that the attacks were becoming unacceptable.
He also said that more than 70 people were killed in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West local government areas (LGAs), of the state in the last two weeks.
“You have all seen what is happening within the last two weeks. We have lost over 70 people in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West LGAs alone, in addition to what you have seen here.
“Many are in the hospital apart from the seven that were killed. But I want to say that our patience is being overstretched in spite of our preaching of rule of law and due process. You can see that the people are fed up.’’
Ortom urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to take full responsibility of the security challenges facing the country as he is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He also called on other governors to wake up and impress on the president to address the country on the ongoing insecurity in the country.
“Mr President must rise up; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has taken oath of office to secure and protect lives and property.
“This (attack) is not acceptable, this cannot continue. Mr President must rise up and address the nation.
“My colleagues, the governors must rise and impress on the President to call a security submit, if possible to declare a state of emergency on security so that all hands will be on deck to address the situation in the country,’’ he said.
…we just registered 420 Households, 851 persons in the camp says officials…
…my daughter was chased and stabbed and left to drawn in River Kaduna, woman cry out…..
……Zonkwa Now hosting 13 Communities displaced by herdsmen attack….
By Emmanuel Bagudu
From Thursday 9th July up till Sunday (today) 12 July, major communities under curfew in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna have been tensed. No thanks to the latest herdsmen attack which began on Thursday and continued on Friday in Chibob and it’s neighbourhood all in Zangon Kataf without security interventions as at the time of writing this report.
Over 420 households made up of 851 persons from 13 communities in Zangon Kataf have abandoned their communities to nearby Zonkwa, the headquarters of the local government where an emergency internally displaced persons (IDP) camp was created by some residents.
Correspondent, Emmanuel Bagudu who drove from Kaduna to meet the affected victims in their various locations of refuge presents this report.
Fear, anxiety and indignation best describes the surviving victims of Chibob and 12 other communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government who were attacked on Thursday and Friday by bandits they described as herdsmen.
The Victims who laments the lost of their loved once from the attack are indignant; they are shocked that despite the 24 hours curfew imposed by the State government, hardened criminals had a field day in their communities without apprehension.
It was an emotional experience while trying to gather facts as more survivors of the attack keep arriving as at 10 am on Sunday Morning when I arrived the camp located at the ECWA Christian Academy, Zonkwa.
Being an indigene of Zangon Kataf Local Government with fluency in Atyap and Bajju tribes and with mild understanding of Ikulu and Kamatan tribes as well as Chawai, a tribe from neighbouring Kauru Local Government, I knew gathering real facts and listening to people’s story will be quite adventurous.
While embarking on the journey to Zangon Kataf, a lot of fake news and misconceptions about the attack was already making the rounds in the State capital Kaduna.
“Be careful,” a friend warned me before I left.
A lot of persons living in the Kaduna metropolis believe the place is a war zone since the discovery of the corps of one Mr Yusuf Shehu Magaji in June this year, at a river bank in the border between Zangon Kataf and Kauru Local Government area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that Mr Magaji’s demise was as a result of a clash over a piece of farmland between him (Magaji) and some Hausa-Fulani men, hence the imposition of the 24 hour curfew, which the State government is yet to relax.
Although Magaji is from the Chawai speaking tribe (Kauru LGA), he was born and brought up in Sako, a land of the Atyaps (Kataf) in Zangon Kataf, who are known to be very revengeful and repulsive to the Hausa-Fulanis whenever they temper with the lives and property of their kinsmen or anyone close to them.
All was set. I covered a total distance of 200 kilometres from Sabon Tasha Kaduna to Zonkwa, to Yabak, Takanai Zango, Sako, (asha-a-wuce), Sabon Kaura and Chibob, the most affected village in the attack.
Sabon Kaura and Chibob are the only communities attacked but residents neighbouring the two villages who claimed they received threats messages of attack by herders have to join the Chibobs to throng the Zonkwa IDP camp.
Before reaching Chibob, I touched down at Zonkwa where over a thousand persons from 13 villages, including Chibob were all at the ECWA Christian Academy IDP Camp. They were mostly made up of women and children.
Zachariah Danjuma, an official of the Camp narrated how they saw the IDPs moving en masse from Gora, (a transit village) on foot.
“They were all angry at the State government” Danjuma said, adding that “so far we have registered 420 households, 851 persons in the camp, we have the following Communities mostly women and Children….The men stayed behind to provide vigilante in case of further attacks”.
He identified the fleeing communities in the camp which includes Sabon Kaura, Chibob, Takanai, Warkan, Ramin Kura, Sabafan, Sako, Yabak, Bafai Gida, Kurmin Gandu, Mayinyubi (Bakin Kogi-Kauru LGA) and Unwgan Rohogo.
“We brought them here in the camp yesterday Saturday and as you can see, more are still coming in,” he said.
Breast feeding mothers and children between the ages of 3 to 19 are the most populated in the camp. Religious Organisations and individuals that came visiting had already started sending in donations to the camp in either cash or kind.
“We have received mattresses from Deborah Arise Ministry, and a lot of people come to give us little cash just like you just did,” Danjuma said.
I was taken round classes in the camp which are now converted to shelter for the IDPs and in each class, the IDPs had a lot of stories to tell.
For Mrs Murna Tabat, she witnessed the killing of up to four people while trying to escape for her dare life.
Tabat who spoke in Atyap (Kataf) language narrated how the attackers took advantage of the river Kaduna, which flows and passed through Chibob community.
She said the only way to flee from the attackers was through the river Kaduna, which is already heading towards overflowing due to heavy rains.
A woman at the IDP narrates her ordeal (SEE ATTACHED VIDEO)
That meant only those who could swim the already “tempest looking river” survived the attack, but since the attack was fragmented, some people manage to escape without following through the river, other survivors said.
“My daughter while running was stabbed and as she ran towards the river (river Kaduna), she drowned…. we have buried her before coming,” Mrs Tabat said agonizingly.
For his Part, Timothy Musa a resident of Takanai, said “….the attack took place in Chibob on Thursday, and on Friday. Same attack took place in Sabon Kaura… where houses were burnt….”
This according to Musa made the remaining neighbouring communities to flee for safety since they have already received threatening signs of impending attacks.
Without much-a-do at the IDP camp in ECWA Christian Academy Zonkwa, I proceeded to the communities to see for myself.
From Zonkwa to the 13 communities is just less than 20 kilometres with several shortcuts. I drove from Zonkwa to Ungwan Wakili where I switched to a motorcycle for shortcuts purposes.
From Ungwan Wakili, one can head towards Yabak and Takanai through an untarred road just in front of ECWA church Ungwan Wakili. I moved and all I could see were fierce-looking youths mounting roadblocks and making enquiries. All you need to do is to respond to them in Atyap (Kataf) language and you are free to go. You dare not record anything or risk losing your life irrespective of the language you speak.
I rode passed several youths until I reached Yabak village. All I saw are men and youths on patrol. Just after Yabak is Takanai. Youths from the 13 communities engaged in a massive patrol.
“We are looking for Fulani men that attacked us last two nights,” one of the youths who pleaded anonymity said.
Asked whether they have seen any security person around, he said, “yes they just left for Chibob, where the real thing happened. Here, we are just defending. They told us they are coming, but we have not seen them (referring to the bandits)”.
All the villages are attached to each other. I was told by a community head who also pleaded anonymity that only Chibob and Sabon Kaura were attacked, but since the remaining communities are neighbouring them, and have received threatening signs, everyone had to run for their lives.
In Chibob and Sabon Kaura, it’s a mourning mood. Security men have already taken positions. I was interrogated, but being an indigene of Magamiya and born and brought in Zangon Kataf and with valid means of identification, I exonerated myself.
It is a very precarious situation right now in Zangon Kataf and only the Atyap speaking tribe are directly affected.
A lot of questions are being asked such as: what happened to the curfew imposed in the local government with strict reference to the Atyap chiefdom?
It is the peak of the raining season; will the State government allow bandits deny residents of their only source of livelihoods which is farming?
All these and many more questions remained unanswered as the IDPs at ECWA Christian Academy Zonkwa also look forward to reuniting with their fathers and brothers soon.
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Monday assured that all the IDP camps in this state will be vacated by the end of the year.
The governor said that his administration decided to handle the issue of IDPs in three phases and so far, the first two phases have been concluded.
He said that he is working on the third and final phase of total resettlement.
Lalong noted that his administration started by considering the security of the displaced persons who may be frightened of returning to the place that they were first displaced.
He said that he is working fervently to return peace and security to communities in the state.
The Governor spoke in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.
He said, “I set up a road map since last year and appointed a committee to quickly see to the return of all IDPs to their various communities, we started in phases, we did phase one and two.
“For those whose houses where not totally destroyed we handled it and asked them to return, that reduced a lot of the population in the camps, for the second phase many of them requested to rebuild themselves and brought a budget for the purchase of materials, we provided for them and some went back and rebuilt.
“The most important thing in situations like this is to first of all consider their security, it is not easy for one who has seen what they did to rush back which is what we are trying to handle, we are in the process of providing a mobile police unit in some areas, I am in touch with the Inspection General of Police and very soon it will kick off.
“Some of you saw me when we were trying to address the security situation and addressed the national livestock policy, the policy is inclusive of security and how to help those fighting. I have assured them at my state that by the end of this year that is my hope that nobody will be in IDP camp in Plateau state.”
Dame Tallen urged the governor to be the first to take the issue of gender equality seriously by appointing more female commissioners and special advisers.
Her words, “We will work together as a team to take Plateau to the next level, I want to commend your good works in the Plateau particularly in the area of security which is top in the federal agenda, you have done well in ensuring peace on the Plateau.
“Your state is doing well in the area of the girl child education but we are pleading with you to do more because educating the girl child solves a lot of problems, I plead with you to take the issue of gender equality seriously, I appeal to you to be the leading state in the appointment large number of females as commissioners and special advisers so that I can boast and tell the other governors that my state is leading.”
Normalcy has returned to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Dalori, Maiduguri, after Thursday night attack by Boko Haram.
Two persons –an old man and a child – died in the attack.
Dozens of hoodlums on motorcycles and two motorised rickshaws invaded the IDPs at about 8pm after gaining entry through the back perimeter fence.
They broke into shops emptying them of food items and then started shooting sporadically.
“We have recovered two dead bodies from the attack which also left several IDPs (internally displaced persons) with injuries,” said Bello Danbatta, head of security in the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“The insurgents looted and burnt shops in the camp and also carted food supplies from the main store where food aid is stored,” he said.
Abba Aji, a top commander of the youth vigilance group known as Civilian-JTF, said the gunmen first attacked the soldiers’ station near the camp before they moved in, shooting sporadically.
“It happened a few minutes after 8 p.m. when they (Boko Haram) broke into the camp and killed two persons, an old woman a very little child,” he said.
The attack sent panic around the university especially as soldiers manning the gates also responded with their guns.
The sporadic shooting forced some students and many residents living around the locations to flee into the town.
Hauwa Ibrahim, a female student, said she had to flee from the school campus against the warning of the security men at the gate.
“I had to call my uncle who rushed to the University gate to pick me and some of my friends,” she said.
“We could not take the risk of sleeping in my hostel because the sound of the shootings and what sounded like bombings seemed very close to our hostel,“ Ms Ibrahim said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 140 shelters were destroyed by fire in two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.
NEMA Northeast Information Officer, Malam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri.
Ibrahim said the fire incidents were recorded at Flatari and Nguro camps in Monguno on Saturday.
He disclosed that 28 shelters were destroyed at Flatari camp, affecting 20 households while 120 shelters were razed and 77 households displaced at Nguro in the fire disaster.
He added that about 371 persons were displaced in the fire outbreaks recorded in the two camps.
Ibrahim said that the agency was conducting investigation to identifying the cause of the fire and appraise the needs of the victims.
According to him, the agency in collaboration with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had scaled up activities to support the victims.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday said it has began preparations for the resettlement of returnees to Jakana community of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.
Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim, Information Officer, NEMA Northeast Zonal Office, in a statement said the agency in collaboration with the military has began preparations to return the affected persons to their homes sequel to the completion of military operation in the area.
He said that the agency has made adequate arrangements to distribute food and non food items to the affected persons, to ease their sufferings caused by the displacement.
“The Nigerian Army and camp management officials at Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp are preparing for the relocation of the evacuated people of Jakana back to their community after conclusion of military operations to flush out insurgents in the area.
“The relocation will begin with evacuation of women, children and the other vulnerable groups before the men.
“Food and non food items were mobilised by NEMA for distribution in Jankana community, to reduce the effect of the disruption of economic activities as a result of the evacuation,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the army on April 9, evacuated residents of Jakana to Bakassi IDPs camp in Maiduguri for safety due to the ongoing clearance operation against Boko Haram insurgents in the area.
NAN reports that the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, said that up to 10,000 women, men and children who were forced to relocate to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, from a town 40km away.
On the evening of Monday, the Nigerian military ordered the immediate departure of and forced the relocation of up to 10,000 civilians in the middle of the night from Jakana town.
NAN reports that on Jan. 10, the UN-OCHA said an additional 30,000 IDPs have fled volatile areas around the Lake Chad in Borno to Maiduguri, the capital, following recent upsurge of Boko Haram attacks in the area.
The UN said the impact of the recent fighting on innocent civilians was devastating and has created a humanitarian tragedy.
…Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Bakassi others get relief materials
In line with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), relief materials have been donated to some Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across some affected states in Nigeria, while the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside used the opportunity to call for more support from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations.
The NIMASA DG who was speaking at one of the IDP camp in Abuja noted that people at the IDP camps across the country are integral part of Nigeria; hence they should not be neglected nor discriminated.
“We must share in the grief of our fellow citizens, as no one wishes to find his or her self in any camp, knowing fully well that the comfort there is minimal. Let me also assure you that in no distant time from now, you will all return to your abodes as the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that your safety is paramount. For us in NIMASA we are not just concerned about the well-being of the maritime sector, but as a corporate socially responsible Agency, we are concerned about your welfare; this is why we are here to support you the best way we can,” Dr. Peterside said.
The DG who was represented in the camp by the Agency’s Director, Special Duties in charge of External Relations and Technical Cooperation, Hajia Lami Tumaka noted that the Agency will continue to support all initiatives by the Federal Government to ensure their welfare and safety is guaranteed.
Similarly, the Agency’s Director of Internal Audit, Mr. Victor Onuzuruike represented the Agency at the Gubio IDP Camp in Maiduguri, Borno State to present items to them.
While presenting the items, he noted that NIMASA as a responsible Agency will continue to work with relevant institutions in the country to provide relief to all Nigerians experiencing one disaster or another.
“As a sign of love and in recognition of the need to continuously offer succor to alleviate the challenges and the sufferings of our internally displaced brothers and sisters spread across Nigeria, NIMASA brings you glad tidings. We have come not with a heavy heart, but with a message of love and assurance, he said”.
At the camp in the Odiereke-Ubie community of Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers State and Bakassi area of Cross River State, the Head, Corporate Communications of the Agency, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi who also represented the Agency stated that NIMASA will not relent on its efforts to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring that the IDP’s across the country are well catered for.
In his words, “we understand your circumstances, we feel your pains, we know your needs; therefore, we as an Agency of government will continue to extend our hands of fellowship to support you. We share in the pains you are passing through, hence this efforts which is aimed at reducing such pains. We are indeed touched by your situation and it is in the spirit of love that we make this donation. We hope that the gesture is taken in the spirit in which it is given”.
Receiving the materials in the various States, Local Governments and Communities visited, the representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and some of the local Chiefs in the visited areas were on ground to receive the items that were bought by the Agency. They unanimously expressed gratitude to the Agency and noted that the materials donated will be used appropriately.
Some of the States the Agency visited includes; Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Rivers, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It may be recalled that aside from the regulatory and promotional functions of NIMASA, the Agency has always been at the fore front of promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the country as demonstrated severally in various parts of the country. The Agency has rendered assistance to victims affected by insurgency and flood amongst others.
The Plateau Government has concluded plans to commence free lessons for children in nine Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.
The camps were established following recent attacks in some communities in Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas, which displaced more than 12,000 persons and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
Mr Jude Dakur, the state Commissioner for Secondary Education told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Thursday that the lessons would be on the basic subjects for primary and secondary school children.
“We do not want these children to be backward in their studies because of the attacks in their communities.
“The teachers would be volunteers from the camps and from other Non- Governmental Organisations who had visited the camps.
“We are already collating the number of teachers in the IDPs camps to engage them in free lessons. Writing materials and teaching materials would be provided to facilitate the exercise, “ he said.
The commissioner said that to improve the standard of education in the state, the ministry had distributed computers to 40 public secondary schools to facilitate internet access for research and other academic purposes.
He said that the state government was working toward distributing computers to over 300 secondary schools and to also renovate schools affected by windstorms and rain.
Dakur said that the state government had sent a formal report to the National Examinations Council (NECO), notifying them that the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were disrupted in the communities affected by the recent attacks.
“ Many candidates in the affected communities did not write all the subjects they registered for. We are hoping NECO would consider an alternative arrangement instead of the financial burden of registering again next year, “ he said
NAN reports that 13 public schools in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area could not complete the conduct of the NECO examinations due to the attacks.
Not less than nine people were reportedly feared dead after a fire outbreak occurred at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Rann, Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State.
This is following an outbreak of fire, which killed nine people and injured many others in the camp.
According to information gathered from one Suleiman Ajiya, on Monday, the IDPs had been left with nothing after the United Nations withdrew its staff and support from that part of the state.
“Our people have been dying of hunger and starvation since the UN left. There is nothing to eat as the little that is available from government and well meaning Nigerians is not even enough for the women and children.
“There is also no medical care and people are now open to so many diseases due to hunger and starvation in the camp. Also lack of water has been a problem, which the people have been battling with.
“Today, at about 12 noon, there was a fire outbreak. Some people who were down due to hunger and its related sickness were choked. There was no water to fight the fire, thereby living no help for those who were trapped in the fire.
“We lost nine people with several others injured as a result of the fire incident this afternoon. We are calling for help for these people because they are really suffering for now,” Ajiya said.
![EXCLUSIVE: Over 20 killed, 851 persons displaced as bandits unleash mayhem in Kaduna [PHOTOS/VIDEOS]](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kaduna.jpg)
