1,000 Die, 250,000 Displaced By Insurgency In Three Months’

AN assessment report by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the humanitarian situation in the State of Emergency (SOE) states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, has shown that from January to March 2014 alone, insurgency and other humanitarian challenges left 1,000 people dead and 250,000 displaced from their homes.

  Besides, 47 persons were yesterday feared killed in violent attacks in Nasarawa, Benue and Borno states.

  In Nasarawa State, unknown gunmen invaded Giza village in Keana Local Council, killing 19 persons, while suspected herdsmen murdered 20 people in Agena and Mbatsada communities in Benue State. Also, a twin suicide car bomber crashed into a Police Federal Highway patrol vehicle along the Maiduguri-Bama Road in Borno State, killing eight persons, including five policemen.

  Similarly, Kaduna metropolis was yesterday saved from another attack as the police detonated a high-calibre Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted at the ever busy Sultan /Kashim Ibrahim Road junction by an unidentified motorcyclist.

  Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark has reiterated the resolve of the Federal Government towards ending the insurgency in the country just as he insisted that capital punishment is the antidote to the menace.

  Also, the Kaduna State Government yesterday began a retreat with traditional rulers to enhance the capacity in dealing with emerging security challenges in their various domains.

  In a related development, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Benue State chapter, has called on the state government to urgently initiate a concert of the Middle Belt states to stop the killing of farmers by marauders.

  The report confirmed that of the 9.7 million population (according to the 2006 population figure), in the affected states, 3.1 million are directly or indirectly affected by the crisis, while 1.5 million people are in urgent need of assistance, 245,000 displaced people are living in host communities and 5,366 people living in Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

  The report further revealed the grim situation of the affected communities and councils as the meal consumption was said to have dropped from three to once daily because most of the displaced persons complain that their property have been lost, either left behind, stolen or completely destroyed by the insurgents.

  The report further stated that the sanitary conditions are also horrendous with an average of 500 persons sharing latrines, which is far from the 50 persons per latrine sphere standard in most of the affected areas.

  It added that there were no pit latrines in most of the camps that were visited as most of the residents had to use alternative means, such as bush, plastic bags, paper, among others.

  An official of the agency, Auwal Abubakar who presented the Multi Sector Rapid Assessment report of the SOE states in the country during a humanitarian co-ordination forum’s meeting yesterday in Abuja, said that most of the IDP camps had no refuse bins, communal refuse pit or bathing areas.

  He further disclosed that many of the residents had to take their bath in the stream, while women take theirs at night.

  The report further lamented that of the 1,500 boreholes in all the SOE states, only 500 are functioning, though with good quality water, but the taps are not enough to serve the host communities, talk less of the IDPs.

  It further said that NEMA had to provide water using water tankers from its zonal office in Maiduguri to make up for the water shortage while some residents resort to streams, rivers and stagnant water.

  Lamenting the horrible situation in the SOE states, he noted, “the overwhelming feeling of being insecure is a constant pattern among the displaced persons, the fabric of society is being torn apart with the increase of female headed household, unaccompanied children, and the most vulnerable being left behind. There is no mechanism to address violence-probe situation, for instance, there is no presence of human rights commission, social welfare and security officials.

  The NEMA official further expressed nostalgia that the crisis in the north eastern states had collapsed all the health system in most of the affected councils, adding that though the number of functional structures was extremely low before the insurgence.

  Abubakar recommended that with unrelenting insecurity and increasing number of IDPs fleeing the violence, the humanitarian community must prioritise the rapid and co-ordinated response to growing needs of the displaced populace, stressing the need for food, water, sanitation, hygiene and protection in the affected areas.

  He also called on the Federal Government to distribute fertiliser and seeds to the displaced people so as to quickly reintegrate them back to the society.

  The gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons were said to have stormed Giza community at about 6.00 a.m., killing and destroying property worth millions of naira, including the palace of the paramount ruler of Giza chiefdom, Alhaji Umaru Elegu Abu ll.

  According to an eyewitness, Hemba Chia: “They came and killed several people. As I speak with you, we have been able to recover nine corpses from the surrounding bushes while some are still being searched for. The ones so far discovered have been taken for burial.”

  The Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Umar Ismaila, confirmed the attack, but said only five people were killed.

  He added that the police had mobilised to the affected community to provide adequate security.

  However, the swearing-in of the newly-elected officials of Keana Local Council scheduled for yesterday was cancelled due to the incident.

  Confirming the marauders’ attack, the chairman of the Gwer-East Local Council of Benue State, Dr. David Maor, told journalists in Makurdi that he had so far received 12 corpses; adding that the herdsmen invaded the council ward in the early hours of yesterday and subjected the entire village to heavy shooting which led to many deaths.

  Maor described the attacks as “unprovoked and unwarranted” and called on the security operatives in the state to station a unit of the police to prevent the invaders from further attacks.

  The council chairman however commended the prompt response of the police and their efforts in calming the situation in the area and called for sustained efforts.

  But the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ezeala, confirmed seven deaths, a woman and six men, adding that more security has been beefed up in the area, while no arrest has been made.

  According to an eyewitness, Ba Modu Mustapha, “the suicide cars loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) crashed into the police patrol vehicle at Dolori Housing Estates and killed five policemen, including three suspects in vehicles used in the operation.

  As the deafening sound of the blasts were heard in Maiduguri, some residents, including school children scampered for safety.

Immediately after the blasts, troops of 7 Division of Nigerian Army and a combined team of anti-riot policemen quickly mobilised to the scene of the incident and cordoned the area.

  The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Gideon Jubrin, in an interview yesterday in Maiduguri confirmed the incident, adding that the suicide bombers were also feared killed in the blasts.

  Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Aminu Lawan, who confirmed the incident, said “we got a distress call that a polythene bag containing a questionable substance was dropped by a moving motorcyclist. So, we quickly ordered our Anti-Bomb Squad team to the area.

  “The area was immediately condoned when it was discovered that the polythene bag contained high calibre IED, and our Anti-Bomb Squad was able to successfully detonate the IED and the area was immediately brought under control.

  “As I speak with you now, the area is calm and people are already going about their normal activities, meanwhile effort to apprehend the suspect is on top gear.”

  Addressing the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), who were in his office to protest against the unabating insurgency in the country, Mark frowned at killings in the name of religion or expressing grievances is condemnable and totally unacceptable.

  “My faith does not accept capital punishment, but as an individual, I believe that if you kill, you should be killed as well.” Mark stated.

  He told the aggrieved women: “We are as pained as you are; I think there is no one who is not feeling the pain. In those days, you can travel anytime, to anywhere and any village you went to, you are always welcomed and secured. But today, the reverse is the case. We must rise up and collectively condemn this dastardly act in our society.”

  Mark said there is need to win the heart of all and sundry in curbing all forms of insecurity, saying. “Besides insurgency, kidnapping and armed robbery go on in other parts of the country.”

  Speaking at the retreat, Governor Ramalan Yero decried the dangerous trend of wanton destruction of life and property in the state in particular and the nation at large, saying “it is time to halt the ugly situation through collaborative efforts of stakeholders at all levels.”

  The PFN state officials led by its Chairman, Rev. Tor Uja, in a press conference in Makurdi stressed the need for all states of the region to work together in dealing with the crisis so that no state in the zone would be seen as providing a safe haven for the marauders.