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Hardship: Sokoto IDPs Scavenge Plastics to Make a Living

Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in Isa LGA of Sokoto state have resorted to sales of used plastics and bottle cans to make a living as a means to survive hunger.

The IDPs, mostly women and children, said they have no alternative than to scavenge and sell the used cans to buy food and other daily necessities.

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They lamented that even begging on the street that they used to survive on no longer yields meaningful results.

Malama Aisha Ibrahim said they are now roaming the street to pick up empty plastics and used cans which is a business they embrace to make a living, saying they don’t need alms but capital to build on their business.

According to her they were sacked from their homes by bandits and are now seeking refuge in the camp. 

She added that due to present economic hardship, everyone is looking for a way to survive, including them.

“We are not begging but we are here for business, we need to be supported with capital to expand our business, that’s all that we need”.

“We were compelled to take up this business in order to bring food to our table. My son’s properties including his cars were set ablaze by the bandits. We have to leave home and be here”, she said.

Not minding the health hazards associated with the new business they ventured in, another IDP Malama Luba said they find joy in the business since they earn money from it as the support in the camp is not enough to sustain them.

Luba, who is now camped at a primary school since their displacement from their home, noted that since the time she came into the camp, no support had come to them from the government.

“We have never been supported by the government, we only defend upon Allah, and this our little  business, we are just camped here but with no any form of support”, said Luba.

When contacted by WikkiTimes, Isah Dan Dela, the Chairman Isa local government said contrary to claims by the IDPs, the local government has been providing support to them, adding that other non-governmental organizations are also rendering support to them.

According to him, the local government has written to the state government on the situation of the IPDs and that the government has responded.

He however argued that the support ight not  necessarily meet the demands of the displaced persons.

“We have been supporting them, and other NGOs are also partnering with us. You can not totally meet human demands. But we are trying and the state government is sending support to us. Governor Aliyu has promised to support us and he is visiting us tomorrow”, he said.

WikkiTimes learned that Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu has on Sunday visited Isa Local Government and donated 20 million naira and four trucks of grains as support to the people of the area.

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