Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has ordered the distribution of food items and other relief materials to the internally displaced persons affected by recent ethnic crisis in the neigboring Adamawa communities who are taking refuge in Jessu and Nyuwar communities of Balanga Local Government area of Gombe state.
To this end, the Secretary of the state Committee on Relief and Palliatives who is also the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Mela Audu Nunghe led other members and State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA Officials to carry out the distribution exercise on behalf of the Chairman, Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar lll at Jessu and Nyuwar communities in southern axis of Balanga.
He said the Gombe state Government’s gesture was meant to support the IDPs who helplessly migrated into the state from about 10 communities in Adamawa as a result of ethnic conflict.
The commissioner for Special Duties said residents from border communities of Adamawa that include Zikawon, Mamsirme, Boshikiri, Tarakira, Lafia, Adaka, Jakari, Shibu and Shibirwe approximated at about 3000 are currently taking refuge in the two communities of Jessu and Nyuwar.
Barrister Nunghe affirmed that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is responsive and sensitive to the plight of the people, reason why he instructed the committee to support the victims with relief package and further directed that the message of peace and harmony be taken to the 2 communities.
The commissioner added that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has sent his appreciation to the traditional rulers of the 2 areas and their subjects for accommodating and embracing the IDPs with open arms, calling on them to continue in that direction.
Items presented in Jessu community include 60 bags of rice, 60 bags of sugar, 120 bags of maize, 120 cartons of tomatoe paste and 18 jerricans of vegetable oil.
Also, the relief materials presented to Nyuwar community include 40 bags of sugar, 40 bags of rice, 25 bags of maize, 80 cartons of tomato paste and 12 jerricans of vegetable oil.
While applauding the spirit of humanity and compassion demonstrated by the two communities, Barrister Nunghe called for equity and fairness in the distribution of the relief materials, adding that State Emmergecy Management Agency, SEMA officials will be on ground to supervise the exercise.
In their separate remarks, district heads of Jessu, Mr. Laban Binus and his counterpart, Mr. James Pisagi who were represented by Mr. Jatau Busa and Mr. Yohanna Galmaka respectively thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his timely intervention and his demonstration of empathy, pledging to ensure judicious distribution of the items.
Some of the IDPs who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries said the gesture from Gombe state government will make a great impact in mitigating their suffering.
They urged other organizations and public spirited individuals to emulate the Gombe state Governor’s gesture in providing succour to those in need.
