NEMA moves to rehabilitate internally displaced persons in Adamawa

Sets up panel on liberated communities

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun the process to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State to move back into communities liberated from Boko Haram insurgents. 

    Some of the liberated communities include Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong, Gombi, Maiha, Ganye and Michika local government areas. 

    Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi Wednesday set up a committee to carry out assessments and determine the immediate needs of the IDPs in an effort to assist the returnees in rebuilding their lives. 

    He charged the committee to immediately follow up the IDPs with appropriate relief materials to assist in their initial rehabilitation. It would be noted that seven of eight local government areas occupied by Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa State have been liberated by the military. 

    A statement by the Senior Information Officer of the agency Mr. Sanni Datti disclosed that the committee has started its work at Gombi Local Government and received assistance from the Minister of Youth Development and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, who accompanied the team on the exercise.

   Others in the NEMA committee include Commissioner for Health, Adamawa State, Dr. Rejoice Chama, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Peter Salihu Gogura, officials of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. The committee is to visit all of the local government areas and assess the needs of the people as well as distribute appropriate supports to them.

   Commander of 28 Taskforce Brigade based in Hong, Brigadier General Victor O. Ezugu while briefing the committee said the military operations have been successful and all the local government areas occupied by the insurgents except Madagali have been liberated.

     He assured that his men have secured the local government areas and are firmly on ground, providing security, adding that people displaced by the insurgency were beginning to return to their communities.

    Some of the returnee residents expressed appreciation for the restoration of peace in their communities and urged government to ensure sustainable security in the communities. They appealed to the government for more support to rebuild their damaged homes.

    Leader of the committee, Musa Zakari said NEMA has already deployed trucks of relief materials to the area. He said more supports are on the way from Federal Government to assist the returning to recover from their losses. He urged the returned residents to call their relatives that are yet to return, to come back to their homes.