NEMA assists 677 robbery victims in Katsina

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to victims of robbery attacks in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina state. Alhaji Musa Ilallah, the NEMA Northwest Zonal Coordinator, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the materials were handed over to the council officials on Thursday July 11. Illah said the victims included 232 women of which 30 were pregnant, 380 children and 65 men. NAN reports that the victims, from six villages took refuge at Faskari Model Primary School six days ago after armed robbers attacked several villages in the area, carting away cattle and valuables. Ilallah said the items distributed included 300 pieces of mattresses, mats, blankets and mosquito nets, as well as 50 bags each of rice, maize and millets. Other were 10 Jerry cans each of vegetable and palm oil, and 400 cartons of noodles. NAN reports that the Faskari local council had also provided drugs, sanitary materials, water and consumables to the victims. Its Director of Finance and Administration, Alhaji Sale Tsagero, told NAN that the state Rehabilitation and Emergency Relief Agency (RERA) had similarly distributed relief materials to the victims. According to him, the items shared out include 100 bags of cassava flour, 20 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 200 gallons of palm oil, 200 pieces of cooking stoves, 200 cartons of noodles, 100 pieces of plastic buckets, soap and detergent. A NAN correspondent who visited the camp reports that the victims have taken over class rooms in the school. One of them, Malam Hassan Lawal, said the armed robbers had attacked different villages, including Unguwar Hayi on July 4 and Unguwar Doka on July 7, where a 17-year-old boy was killed and his cows carted way. ``Because of the the two incidences our people deserted their villages to escape the robbers; we are from six communities along with our families,’’ Lawal said. According to him, a woman, Malama Hassanatu Musa, had delivered a baby on their way to the camp, adding that four others are on admission at a hospital. He commended the efforts of the local council, Faskari Hospital Friends Committee and Red Cross Society for their support. When contacted, Malam Ibrahim Dahiru, the Divisional Secretary of the Red Cross, said some of the victims had also taken shelter in Sabon Layin Galadima, Fankama and Maigora villages. According to him, the people living in Zamfarawar Arewa and Marabar Sabon Layi have deserted their villages due to persistent attacks by the robbers. Also, Chairman of Faskari Hospital Friends Committee, Malam Sani Garba, said the committee had been providing food to the victims since their arrival. (NAN)