Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
August 16, 2017.
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has flagged off the
distribution of 36,000 metric tons (720,000 bags) of food items to
Boko Haram victims in Buratai district of Biu Local Government Area
and six other councils in the state.
Buratai is a country home of Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai
and had suffered several Boko Haram attacks that claimed 65 lives,
including the destruction of houses and places of worship.
The 36, 000 tons of relief items were initially launched at Bakassi,
Maiduguri camp by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, as part of
Federal Government Emergency Food Intervention in the North-east.
Flagging off the exercise at Buratai village, Shettima who, was
represented by his deputy, Usman Durkwa, applauded Osinbajo for
decimating Boko Haram insurgents with the donation of food items to
1.85 million people displaced by eight-year insurgency in the state.
He said the food items, are specifically meant for returning displaced
persons from seven council areas of Biu, Hawul, Kwaya/Kusar, Damboa,
Chibok, Bayo and Shani.
He said the population of returning displaced persons has hit 3,268
with 545 households that will benefit from the distribution exercise.
“The distribution exercise which will be carried out in Hawul, Biu,
Damboa, Shani, Bayo, Chibok, Kwaya Kusar communities of southern Borno
is timely, considering the economic hardships being faced by IDPs who
have since returned to their liberated communities to pick-up their
lives,” said Durkwa.
He said that, each household will collect assorted bags and cartons of
beans, rice, wheat and maize flour, noodles and condiments.
He urged the people to use the opportunity of the rainy season to key
into the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of Governor Shettima for
job creation and self reliance.
His words: “I want to seize this opportunity to thank the People of
Buratai for your resilience. You have experienced different attacks by
insurgents in recent past, but you chose not to give up, as most of
you have not vacated your communities.
“As you are aware of the governments’ efforts in ongoing
reconstruction and resettlement of destroyed private and public
buildings across the state, government is not also unmindful of your
plights.
“We are in southern Borno not only for the distribution of relief
items, but to also flag -off the distribution and sales of assorted
trucks of fertilizer for our teeming farmers at subsisized rates.”
Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ahmed Satomi
said, the intervention have changed the perception of the nation,
particularly Borno in the eyes of international community.
“SEMA is ready to partner with NEMA, local and international
humanitarian organizations in improving the lives and welfare of Boko
Haram victims,” he said.
