Bauchi Distributes Relief Materials, Cash to IDPs

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

About 2,085 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)taking refuge in some selected communities of Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State have received food and non-food items as well as cash donations from the state government as a way of assisting them adjust to the situation they found themselves.

THISDAY checks revealed that the IDPs were those that recently migrated to the state as a result of the civil unrest in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau state.

Addressing the IDPs in the five  communities yesterday where they are taking refuge before presenting the items, Bauchi State Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka, said that the relief materials were meant to assist them survive the hardship  in the camps.

Wanka also informed the IDPs that the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, sent her and the team from the Ministry to sympathise with them and also assess their situations with a view to seeing how government could further provide some basic infrastructure to make their camps more habitable.

The commissioner then appreciated the management of Toro LGA for being host to the IDPs and also implored the IDPs to live peacefully with their host communities.

The distribution of the relief materials and cash saw the Commissioner and her team visiting IDP settlements in Tilden Fulani, Gwaljarandi, Magama Kara, Gajaule and Takanda communities in the LG.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Deputy Caretaker Committee Chairman of Toro LGA, Idris Abdullahi, thanked the humanitarian team for reaching out to the IDPs in the LG.

Abdullahi then assured the commissioner of just, fair and equitable sharing of the items to all deserved beneficiaries.

In their separate vote of thanks, leaders of the five IDPs settlements visited appreciated Governor  Mohammed for the care, concern and compassion demonstrated for their plight and also assured that they will live peacefully with their host communities.

At the end of the exercise, 100 bags of maize, 65 bags of rice and 25 gallons of vegetable oil were shared among the IDPs.

Other items presented were five  cartons of maggi, five  bags of salt, 135 mats, 135 blankets, several utensils and N1 million cash to be shared among the IDPs.