BAYO ALABIRA writes on the intervention by a youth corps member touched by the plight of the IDPs in Jigawa state.
Little Hauwa and Usman may be wondering why they are subjected to all kinds of suffering, wandering the streets of Kiyawa under the scorching sun, and smelling of sweat and body odour in the hands of poor elderly women who are not their mothers, while in search of food.
These two would grow to hear the story of how they were forced into a difficult life, how their parents were killed and how life became terrible for them. Their predicament today would definitely affect their way of life and approach to issues in the society either negatively or positively, depending on how the society treats them, since they have no family to nurture them into responsible adults.
This is the true situation of the Internally Displaced Persons who are mostly women and children settled in Kiyawa town, headquarters of Kiyawa local government area of Jigawa state.
Moved by compassion a corps member serving in the state but of Kogi origin, Miss Kaltumi Inya Abdulazeez, decided to put smiles on the faces of these needy ones as her gesture drew the attention of the state governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
According to Abdulazeez, the sight of six women with their children begging, looking tattered and desolate, and begging for alms which was not coming their way.
“These women and children begged and got nothing but response ‘hakuri hakuri’, so they left frustrated with hunger written all over them.
I called them back and asked what the problem was and they told me they are the IDPs affected by insurgency attacks from the North east of Doronbaga, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.”
“I was disturbed by their plight so I followed them to where they stay to enable me visit them again, but I couldn’t believe what I saw when I got there. These women and children live in an uncompleted building; the place does not fit for human beings to live in, and this made me cry.
“When I returned to my place of primary assignment, Federal Government College Kiyawa, I told the Principal about what I saw but to them it was a normal thing. For me, their situation calls for serious attention, so I immediately began to think of how to assist them with whatever means God permits me.
“I wrote a proposal to the NYSC state Director seeking for approval, and luckily enough it was approved in two weeks. I then wrote several letters to Ministries, Boards, Parastatals and Agencies within the state, including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as well as one other individual in Kano and some politicians soliciting for assistance. But I was disappointed as I was o only able to realise N100,000,00, some items from SEMA, an individual donated N50,000.00, the chairman of State Universal Basic Education (UBEC) Jigawa state and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance gave N30,000.00 and N20,000.00 personal donation”, she lamented.
“I bought the items I distributed to IDPs including 5 bags of rice, 3 cartons of soap, 2 bags of Omo, 2 bags of gari, 200 pieces of clothing, dozens of slippers and shoes, half dozen of shorts for men, palm oil, and 2 bags of sugar among others,” she said.
“My first priority here is to build a place where the IDPs will camp just like the ones in Abuja. I got the land from Kiyawa local government area after two months of struggling but I can’t develop the land now if we don’t get financial donors”.
“These 2,020 IDPs were not given any assistance in terms of food or shelter, they only beg to feed themselves yet the state government stopped them from begging even though most of them have lost their husbands to terrorist attacks, this is not fair to them,” she cried.
Complementing Abdulazeez’s kindness, Governor Abubakar, directed that more assistance be given to the IDPs with immediate effect.
In view of this, about 100 bags of rice, 100 bags of corn, 100 bags of millet and other items were taken to the IDPs in Kiyawa by the state government through the Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, with an invitation sent to the corps member to witness the distribution of the relief materials.
Still not satisfied with how the items were distributed, the young philanthropist advised that relief items for IDPs should be distributed by those who are truly touched by their plight.
“To keep IDPs away from begging in the streets, relief items should be distributed by those who do not care about a bag of rice because; it is disheartening cheating on less privileged people like the IDPs. If possible, there should be a forum for mentorship for them, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition centers be provided, they should be enlightened on security issues, and also let them know that the society loves and cares for them,” she stressed.
To this end, she appealed to the state governor, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians to help develop the land she acquired for the IDPs to enable them have better accommodation “I have pictures of where they are staying, even our dogs don’t stay in such environment”
“I also appeal that people should embrace them so as to encourage them think positively always. If they are not mentored, they may end up emotionally demoralised, and because they are poor, frustration might lead them to immoralities like prostitution, terrorism and so many other social vices.
“If the children can be enrolled into school I can solicit for the assistance of corps members to teach them in their places,” she pledged.
Of the 20,000 IDPs scattered across the 27 local government areas of the state, the corps member’s gesture will be touching the lives of only 2,020 in Kiyawa. The young philanthropist has done her beat, others can as well take it up from there so that the IDPs can feel some love from the society.
