“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others” – Mandy Hale, author.
Mandy’s quotation supports the popular maxim that says “What is good for the goose is good for the gander”. Just as the world stood by Paris in the November terrorist attack, Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Persons who suffered more devastating attacks from Boko Haram insurgency need more support from the world to help them get back to their feet.
For many individuals and communities in Nigeria, the memory of Boko Haram insurgency will live with them for the rest of their lives. Thousands of men lost their wives and children, women suddenly became widows and children were turned into orphans.
The aggressive and merciless attack on the communities became very rampant in 2013 and 2014, thereby displacing more people from their communities with a lot of influx into the state capitals.
In Yobe State, the taking over of Gujba and Gulani local government headquarters and other villages for a period of about 15 months by the insurgents forced thousands of people to relocate from the communities to other places and thus became Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The efforts of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in providing succor to the displaced persons cannot be over emphasized. The establishment of a committee on IDPs headed by the state deputy governor Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu is a worthy development that will grant speedy attention to the needs of the displaced persons.
It is equally gratifying that the food supply does not dry up. This is evidenced by new stock of 1,000 bags of millet, 450 bags of rice, 500 bags of maize and 450 cartons of Indomie noodles.
The effort of institutions and non-governmental organizations in redirecting moral education among youth is a viable contribution to sustainable peace. Yobe State University recently established a center for Research in Quranic Studies to promote authentic Quranic education in the community.
Prof. Musa Alabe, Vice Chancellor of the university said the university saw the challenge in providing students of Quran with the basic and accurate interpretation of the Quran to avoid arbitrary and misleading interpretations which contributed to insurgency in the North East.
The financial support of N150 million by the Lagos State government to the three North East states ravaged by insurgency was in the true spirit of brotherliness. The governments and people of the three states will forever remain grateful to Lagos State. This is indeed a case of “all for one, one for all.”
The gallant and courageous Nigeria Armed Forces and other security agencies have unarguably made unquantifiable sacrifices, with some paying the supreme price, to provide peace and security in the troubled areas. We share in the grief of their families.
While appreciating the efforts of government, institutions and organizations, the international community has a greater role to play in rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of the displaced persons.
Lukman writes from Damaturu: [email protected]
