From Dan Garba, Yola
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 2,100 plastic buckets, kettles, cups, Jerry cans and laundry soaps to victims of insurgents that have return to their various communities in Hong Local Government area of Adamawa state following the restoration of peace in the area.
Similarly, the Federal government through the Nigeria Custom Service donated 200 bags of rice to be shared by the returnees in the area.
Presenting the items to the 12 elected councillors in the area for onward distribution to the beneficiaries at the local government secretariat in Hong, the council Chairman, Alh. Halilu Lala, charged the committee saddled with the responsibility of distributing the items to fear of God and ensure transparency.
The chairman, who expressed optimism that equitable distribution would be carried out considering the calibre of people mandated to carry out the exercise, said: “The items will cushion the effect of hardship experience by the returnees as some had lost all their belongings to the insurgents.
“The rice was seized from illegal importers by the Nigeria Custom Service and President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the foodstuff be given to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returnees and the foodstuff was certified for human consumption by NAFDAC before it was released to them.”
Lala stated that more assistance was needed due to the magnitude of devastation caused by the insurgents and thanked the donors for the gesture, assured that the items will reach the beneficiaries.
The council chairman also advised the returnees to exercise patience as more assistance was being expected to enable them resume back their normal lives.
Lala, who stated that majority of the people in the area were returnees, thanked President Buhari and Governor Jibrilla Bindow for their concern towards alleviating the plight of the returnees and urged the people of the area to continue with prayer for the present administration to succeed.
He expressed joy that “the insurgents who drove away people from their abode during the mayhem are now running helter-skelter looking for safe haven”.
Supervisory councillor, Special Duties of the local government, Mr Ayuba Tagui, saluted the security outfits for their efforts towards bringing peace to the area.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the donation and hoped that more of such will come within shortest possible time.
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