The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internationally Displaced Persons in Nigeria (NCFRMI) has revealed that Some 27,000 people across 1,194 households have been displaced by bandit attacks in the Birnin Gwari council area of Kaduna in the last year.
The Federal Commissioner for the NCFRMI, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed who gave the startling numbers on Tuesday while flagging-off relief materials for 300 households and IDPs from Birnin Gwari noting that a good majority of those displaced were women and children.
Reports have it that Birnin Gwari, together with Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna state has suffered persistent banditry attacks that have led to the displacement of thousands of people.
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While commiserating with the state government and people of Kaduna state over the incessant banditry and communal clashes, Senator Basheer said the commission had in October 2019 flagged off the distribution of relief items to persons displaced by banditry attacks in Birnin Yero of Igabi local government area of the state adding that: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I return today to handover relief items to the beleaguered people of Birnin Gwari local government area.’
He went further to state that as a federal government agency, the commission is mandated to coordinate national action for the protection and assistance of all persons of concern adding that, ‘the commission is partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria to implement Project Reliance, an intervention project for all displaced persons in Nigeria where they have the opportunity to choose from 50 vocational skills.’
Amongst food items to be distributed to the IDP’s are semovita, maize, beans, rice, palm oil, and vegetable oil while other items include local energy stoves, mats, plastic bowls, plastic buckets, blankets and mattresses.
In her remarks, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe commended the commission for the gesture saying the state government was committed to the protection of lives and properties of its citizens.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK