A social-cultural group under the aegis of the Plateau Humanitarian Vanguard in the North Central zone has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, for their prompt response to the plight of communities recently attacked by gunmen in Plateau State.
PUNCH Online had reported that over 100 persons were killed and about 221 houses burnt in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State by gunmen on Christmas Eve.
President Tinubu swiftly directed Edu to do everything possible to provide succour to the victims of the affected communities
Recall that a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on December 28, 2023, also quoted the President as directing the “Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and other relevant agencies to work with the Plateau State Government to deliver immediate humanitarian relief to the affected communities”.
Consequently, Edu caused distributions of food and non-food relief materials to the victims of the attacks in Plateau State on Wednesday.
The Minister who also visited affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment of the areas with her counterpart from the Ministry of Defence and Service Chiefs was on the ground to coordinate Humanitarian Responses as directed by President Tinubu.
Reacting to this development, the group in a statement on Wednesday night, said, such humanitarian interventions, in the face of hunger and displeasure caused by the attacks, may though not compensate for the lost lives, but “can give the people the sense of belonging and ameliorate the momentous pains occasioned by the unfortunate attacks”.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the President of Plateau Humanitarian Vanguard, Jonah Pam said the timely response has given a ray of hope to the affected communities.
“These quick humanitarian interventions mean a lot to the people. A lot is already happening to the displaced people and we believe that any little support from government, individuals and organisations would go a long way to cushion the pains.
“We believe that no amount of humanitarian interventions can bring back our loved ones, but we also know this is not the first of such attacks in the past. What we normally get from the government at the centre is a well-crafted and rehearsed press statement, condemning the attack. And it ends there.
“At least, the coming of Tinubu as President of Nigeria has shown them how things should be done in this situation.
“We also pray that it does not end in providing humanitarian interventions. The security agencies, especially the military, should live above board and get the perpetrators to pay for the heinous crime. It is a genocide against our people and we would not like it to sleep, as usual,” the statement read in part.
The group also called on international organisations, local groups and well-meaning individuals not to leave the welfare and well-being of displaced persons in the aftermath of the killings to the Federal Government alone.
Source: Punch