Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State
From SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Federal Government has distributed 24 trucks of food and non-food items to the victims affected by last Saturday’s massacre of 43 rural rice farmers by Boko Haram terrorists.
The victims were on their farmlands sweating to harvest their cultivated rice to earn a living when their assailants came.
A federal government delegation led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umaru Farouk disclosed this while presenting the list of the items to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
According to her, she was leading a high powered federal government delegation comprising of the Minister of Women Affairs, MRA Pauline Tallen, Chairman Senate on Security and Intelligence, Sen. Gobir, Chairman House Committee on North East Development Commission (NEDC), Hajiya Khadija Bukar, Abba, Chairman House Committee on Security and Intelligence, Hon. Shaaba and Dr. Zainab Gimba.
The Minister added it became necessary for the federal government to cushion the sufferings and hardships of the victims of the Zambarmari Massacre even though whatever government will give them , cam not compensate their loss and agony .
“It is shocking to imagine this act of gruesome murder by the insurgents. This cannot be justified under any guise. We are all aware that our religion is against what has happened to the innocent and hardworking farmers that were not only working to feed themselves but contributing to the food security of the nation.
“President Buhari GCFR is saddened by the attack and has directed me to come here to deliver relief supports from the Federal Government to families of the victims and other affected persons.
“The items include 13, 000 bags of 12.5kg rice (5 ½ trailer load), 13,000 bags of 12.5kg maize (5 ½ trailer load), 13,000 bags of 25kg beans (11 trailer load),1,300 kegs of vegetable oil, 2,116 cartons of seasoning 3 trailer load, 1,083 cartons of tin tomato and 650 bags of salt. The items is 24 trucks of relief items.
“May I therefore, on behalf of the Federal Government present the relief items for distribution to the affected persons in the community.” Safiya said.
The minister and her entourage proceeded to Zabarmari townin Jere local government council located at the outskirts of Maiduguri city where she was revived by the District Head if Zambarmari, Lawan Abba Umar in behalf of the families of the victims and members of the community.
She prayed for the repose of the souls that were innocently murdered and their families and relations to bear the irreparable loss while conveying the sympathy messages of President Buhari to the victims, community, government and people of Borno state over the massacre
Earlier at the Government House, Governor Zulum appreciated the visit and show of concern of the President to the people and government of Borno state while appreciating also the delegation for their visit to condole the government and people of Borno State.
He however, reiterated the need for the implementation of the six point recommendation he earlier send to Tue President , calling on the delegation to remind him on Tue matter.
Zulum also called on Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to liaise with the NEDC and NEMA to come out with a king term Humanitarian Development Plan for the North East region towards rebuilding the region and establishing livelihood support machinery for the citizens of the north east who have been affected by the menace of the crisis for almost 11 years.