Refugee Commission condemns attack on NOUN facility

The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, has condemned recent attack on a National Open University (NOUN) facility in Imo state even as he said the commission would continue to stand on its established mandate.

Ahmed said this against backdrop of the recent attack on the National Open University (NOUN) centre in Nsu Ehime, Imo state.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the commissioner expressed deep dismay over the attack on NOUN facility and strongly condemned the violent actions that resulted in the burning of the university premises and several homes in the area.

“The National Commission remains committed to its mandate of supporting returnee migrants, refugees, displaced persons and would continue to work towards establishing centres that offer hope and empowerment to affected individuals,” Ahmed said.

The head press and public relations unit of the commission, Zahra Ahmed Sani, in a press statement, stated that the commissioner had visited the centre in Nsu Ehime Mbano to assess its potential as a skills acquisition centre for training Persons of Concern (POCs) and six youths from the five south-eastern states.

The statement noted that the visit was solely intended to explore the possibility of utilising the centre for vocational training and rehabilitation, benefiting the most vulnerable in society, including displaced persons and at-risk youth.

The centre was intended to support returnee migrants, refugees, displaced persons and victims of floods or communal clashes.

“Unfortunately, misinformation spread by certain unscrupulous individuals regarding the purpose of the visit and the facility’s intended use sparked tension in the community. This tension ultimately culminated in the attack on the university premises,” the statement noted.

Ahmed however, berated the media “for playing a mischievous role that misrepresented the purpose of the visit after a press briefing in Owerri.”

The commissioner therefore, strongly condemned the attack, reiterating that such misinformation-driven violence jeopardizes efforts to provide essential support to vulnerable communities.

He further urged the media and the public to rely on accurate and verified information while calling for calm in the wake of the incident.