From Muhammad Gazali Garba.
The Sokoto State Government has donated ₦15 million and two trucks loaded with assorted bags of rice to 1,550 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by a recent security incident in Bodinga Local Government Area.
The beneficiaries were drawn from Bangi, Danchadi, Kolodo, Kwamtse, Keluje, and Luge communities.
Presenting the relief items in Sifawa, the Secretary to the State government,Alhaji Muhammad Bello Sifawa, conveyed Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the victims.
He urged them to accept the unfortunate incident as the will of Allah and remain steadfast in faith and hopeful for a better future.
He disclosed that 14 persons lost their lives during the incident, while four others sustained injuries.
According to the SSG, each family of the deceased received three bags of rice and ₦500,000, while each of the four injured victims was presented with two bags of rice and ₦200,000 as support from the state government.
He added that every other displaced person received one bag of rice and a transportation allowance of ₦5,000 to enable them return to their respective communities.
Speaking earlier, the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Tukur Bala Bodinga, who is a member of the relief committee, assured the displaced persons that the state government was taking concrete steps to restore normalcy and facilitate their safe return to their communities.
He said the intervention was aimed at cushioning the hardship faced by the victims and urged them to continue praying for lasting peace, unity, and security in Sokoto State and Nigeria.
Other members of the relief committee include the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Professor Attahiru Ahmad Sifawa; the Chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area; district heads; and APC elders from the area.
The committee reaffirmed the Sokoto State Government’s unwavering commitment to supporting affected communities and ensuring that displaced persons receive the necessary assistance as they rebuild their lives.
A major highlight of the event was the formal presentation of cash assistance and relief materials to the victims.
Families of the 14 deceased victims each received three bags of rice and ₦500,000, while the four injured persons received two bags of rice and ₦200,000 each.
The remaining displaced persons were presented with one bag of rice each, in addition to ₦5,000 transportation allowance to facilitate their return to their respective villages.
