The Caretaker Committee of Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State claimed it distributed various relief materials worth N2.5 million to 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fleeing farmers-herders conflicts that claimed the lives of over 100 people in neighbourhouring local council, Mangu, Plateau State.
Tafawa Balewa shares borders with Mangu, via Boto and Lere axis among other points. The IDPs are currently taking refuge in Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi.
The committee Chairman, Sama’ila Wakili disclosed this to reporters while on a fact-finding mission to the IDPs camps in Boto and Lere primary schools. He described the situation as worrisome, saying it requires urgent intervention of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
He sympathized with them over the incident and further claimed he donated relief materials worth N2.5 million to ease their immediate needs.
The chairman said, the crises have especially taken a toll on women and children, many of whom have been rendered widows and orphans, while many others have lost their personal belongings.
Items donated, he said, include mats, buckets, gari, sugar, cups and rubber kettle, and also promised to provide toilets for them in order to avoid the outbreak of any disease and open defecation.
In his remarks, the Director of SEMA Bala Tafida, says they visited the camps to ascertain the number of IDPs and collect data on how they will be assisted.
The leaders of the IDPs Manu Mohammed and Raihanatu Musa, have pleaded with the Bauchi State government, individual groups and donor agencies to come to their aid as they are in excessive hunger and lack of toilet facilities in the camps.
