By Musa M. Buba Damaturu
In an effort to provide means of livelihood to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who opted to permanently settle in Kukareta, a community in the outskirt of Damaturu, the state capital, the Yobe state government has presented plot of lands, assorted building materials and cash support to 307 IDPs. Presenting the materials to the beneficiaries, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, represented by his Deputy, Abubakar D. Aliyu, said “government will also provide health facilities, water supply and schools among other amenities to help the settlers better.” The deputy governor while presenting materials to the IDPs disclosed that at the moment, less than 2, 000 IDPs “are currently taking refuge at the Pompomari official camp in Damaturu, the state capital.
” “Today’s occasion for the distribution of 307 numbers 50 x 100 plots and building materials like blocks, zinc, nails, timber, cements among others to the IDPs therefore marks yet another milestone in our quest to assists and support the IDPs to build houses and settle in their new communities. “The state government will also provide additional social amenities like health clinics, water supply facilities and schools to augment the existing ones at Kukareta and other returnee communities’, Aliyu said.
The village Head of Kukareta, Lawan Bulama, thanked the state government for the resettlement of the displaced persons,adding that “the IDPs have over the period proven to be of good conduct hence the need to be our brother’s keeper.” Blueprint gathered that the influx of IDPs in Yobe state reached climax in 2011 when Boko Haram heightened their onslaughts on communities within the state and environs with government, confirming that over 300,000 people were displaced while private and public property worth N30 billion were destroyed during the six-year reign of terror in the state. The 307 beneficiaries were given N30, 000 each, while materials supplied include blocks, cement, woods, ceilings, nails and zincs, among others.
