The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), has distributed relief materials to IDPs in Loko community in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria.
The Federal Commissioner, Aliyu Ahmed said the IDPs, who are victims of inter-communal clash in Kogi state took refuge in neighbouring Loko Community of Nasarawa State about three years ago.
Represented by the Director, Internally Displaced Persons Affairs in the Commission, Hajia Fatima Daura, the Federal Commissioner said official records shows that there are about two-hundred and fifty displaced persons in the community.
“The Emir, Mai Loko reached out to the Federal Commissioner and asked for support for these displaced persons.”
Before now, he has been giving them shelter, and they have been integrated into the community.
Describing the crisis between the Bagana and Amagade people as unfortunate, Mr. Ahmed said the food items distributed was the first step towards finding solution to their plight.
Mr. Ahmed further noted that the Commission will hasten plans to find durable solutions to the IDPs and all Persons of Concern.
Three-hundred bags of rice and two-hundred cartons of noodles were distributed to all registered households.
“Under the President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we’re providing renewed hope to our displaced people across the country,” he said
The Federal Commissioner also promised to liaise with the Kogi State Government to ensure the safe and dignified return of the people to their ancestral homes.
Responding to the kind gesture, the Emir of Loko, Mai Loko Abubakar Ahamad Sabo, commended the efforts of the Commission under the leadership of the present Federal Commissioner for the swift intervention after receiving the sad report.
He, however, requested for more interventions for the IDPs and the host communities owning to the pressure of bearing the burdens of the displaced persons.
One of the displaced persons, Mohammed Ali said he lost his dad, uncle and cousin during the clash.
According to him, he was a professional photographer, but lost his tools and everything to the clash.
“We were in the middle of the warring communities. We just saw the people killing each other and since we couldn’t do anything about it, we had to run for our lives, unfortunately, some were caught in the middle of the attack and were killed”.
“I’m a professional photographer, but I’m now jobless because I lost everything due to the clash”.
“I am begging the government to urge the warring parties to please stop the fight and give peace a chance. We need to live peaceably and build better livelihood.”
