Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the Nigerian House of Representatives on Sunday appealed to Nigerians, especially the wealthy, to come to the aid of internally displayed citizens of the country as they remain in various camps following attacks by insurgents.
Dogara urged well-meaning Nigerians to assist the government in providing for the IDPs in the country.
His plea is coming at the same time the Senator representing Borno Central, Baba Kaka Garbai, revealed that the Boko Haram is still in charge of 50 percent of Borno State denying previous stories that the Boko Haram insurgents had been pushed back to the Sambisa Forest.
The Senator said this when he visited Dalori village where 65 persons were killed recently by the sect members.
“I feel highly demoralised, devastated in the sense that this is the village we came during the election and they were going about their normal business. The activities that were ongoing was like confidence building.
“They actually got the signal a few days before the attack that the insurgents were likely to attack them, they reported to the constituted authorities but nothing was done.
“I will like to appeal to the military to intensify their effort in ensuring they beef up security around the villages and communities that share borders with Maiduguri metropolis. It is very important and more so that this place is porous, there could be attack from any direction.
“It is a wrong assumption that most of the local governments in Borno are recaptured from the Boko Haram.
“In reality this is not true in the sense that apart from Maiduguri Metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar, these are the three local government that are under the occupation of the Nigerian government where the military and police are maintaining law and order.
“Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hither-lands are still controlled by the insurgents.
“From my count, only three local government are fully liberated, 21 local governments partially occupied by insurgents, that is there is still some level of Boko Haram occupation side by side the military or any other constituted authority. The local government fully occupied by Boko Haram are Abadam, Mobbar and Kala Balge.’
“We should not live under the illusion that Boko Haram are decimated or weaken, these are not reality and neither a true reflection of the reality. The reality is that most of the local government in Borno is partially occupied by Boko Haram.”
Dogara made the plea for assistance when he visited the IDPs camp in Benin City, Edo, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan.
“When I came in here I saw a people who are determined not to be broken down in spite of the circumstances that surround them.
“I must encourage you. I am of the region of the north where you came from and I am also affected.
“I had to concede one of my houses for IDPs from Yobe and Borno state to live in,” Dogara said adding: “the situation we found ourselves is not just peculiar to us but has been happening in the course of human history.
“It is painful, very painful; you may remember how you left and the people you left behind and I know that 40 per cent of you here are orphans.
“You may be tempted to always cast your mind back over what happened to you. Once you are stuck in that, you will be filled with bitterness and anger and if that happens, you can’t make progress.
“I know it is difficult but we have to take our minds off it.
“Some countries have passed through similar or even worse situations but with faith in God and determination they emerged stronger.”
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