Bandits displace 7 villages in Kebbi, Sokoto States

The Kebbi Government on Monday distributed relief materials to victims of bandits’ attacks in seven villages in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Supreme News reports that two villages were attacked in Kebbi and five in Sokoto State.

Those displaced sought refuge in Jarkuka village, Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, said the affected villages were on the borders of the two states.

“We are in this village on behalf of His Excellency, Gov. Nasir Idris, to distribute relief materials to displaced victims of bandits’ attacks.

“The governor, upon receiving the news of the attack around this axis of border villages between Kebbi and Sokoto states, swung into action.

“We have a situation where thousands of displaced people from the attacked areas trooped into this village and other surrounding villages for safety,” Ahmed-BK said.

He said the “relief materials include thousands of bags of millet, rice, and beans, as well as mats, detergents, buckets, and seasoning, among others, as emergency measures to ameliorate the suffering of these people.”

Ahmed-BK said though the victims were largely from Sokoto state, “yet, as government of the people, by the people, and for the people, the governor directed that all the affected victims be treated equally”.

The commissioner said that they were in the village to ensure equitable distribution of the relief materials.

“We want to reach out to as many people as possible, as it is not possible to satisfy all.

“I want people to understand that this is just the beginning; the governor sent us as an emergency team to offer relief to the victims.

“So, we will now go back with the report of what we‘ve seen. The situation is so pathetic that we have quite a number of displaced women and children.

“We will go back and write a report to the governor, and we anticipate more relief will come their way, In-sha-Allah,” he said.

On his part, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Empowerment, Alhaji Muhammad Hamidu-Jarkuka, appreciated the people of Jarkuka village, who, despite the present economic scourge, accommodated the victims.

The commissioner said the ministry was established to give succour to the people and has centres located at strategic places across the state.

Both the chairman of Arewa local government area, Alhaji Sani Aliyu-Kulita, and the traditional ruler of the area, Alhaji Yakubu Maiyaki-Tsamiya, appreciated the governor's prompt intervention.

It was gathered that a pregnant woman from one of the villages gave birth in the bush while running for safety.