The North East Development Commission has donated food and non-food items to 1,000 families affected by the recent Boko Haram attack in Darajamal, Bama, Local Government Area of Borno State.
Arewa PUNCH had recently reported that 58 civilians and five soldiers were killed in the attack, leading to the displacement of many residents in the community
Speaking shortly after the distribution exercise, the state coordinator of the NEDC, Muhammad Umara, said the items Included – bags of rice, sugar, vegetable oil, cartons of macaroni, blanket, children and women’s wear
He said, “We are here because of the recent attack by Boko Haram on this community, which led to the death of 58 civilians and five soldiers. These items, including food and non-food items, were approved to cushion the effect of what has happened to them,” he said
According to him, the beneficiaries of the donation are widows whose husbands were killed in the recent attack and already existing widows whose husbands were killed by Boko Haram terrorists in the past.
He stressed, “we are targeting about 1,000 house-holds. Each will go home with eight items, consisting of foodstuff and non-food materials.
“The non food items were blankets, women wrappers, brocade for men, and children wears. The food items were bags of 25kg rice each, spaghetti, macaroni, sugar, and vegetable oil.”
Providing further details, Umara stressed, “It is supposed to be 900 households, but couple with the military personnels around, the civilian JTF, hunters and the police. We are extending the gesture to them because without them, the people will not be comfortable staying here.”
Also speaking, the NEDC Head of Branch Operations Aishatu Muhammad pointed out that the distribution exercise was personally conducted by the organisation’s management to ensure that the items get to the main victims
“This distribution means a lot because the attack involves our brothers, sisters, and children who have been brutally killed. The commission deem it fit to come and distribute the items personally, to ensure that those affected and who actually needs them get the items,” she said
One of the beneficiaries, Adamu Muhammad, who recounted the losses from the attack, appreciated the commission for the gesture, describing it as timely
“We lost so much to the attack. Most especially, our loved ones. I lost my uncle, Masama Salih. Therefore, I sincerely appreciate the NEDC for this gesture at this time of grief,” he said.
