The Sokoto State Government has announced a relief package worth more than N100m for families affected by bandit attacks and a recent boat tragedy in Wurno and Goronyo Local Government Areas.
The support also includes 408 bags of maize, millet and rice for the affected households.
A government delegation led by the state APC leader and former governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, delivered the assistance on Monday during condolence visits to Dinawa, Birjingo and Gorau communities.
In Dinawa, relatives of seven residents killed during a bandit attack received N1m each, alongside two bags of maize, two bags of millet and one bag of rice.
Five people who survived the attack with injuries were given N250,000 each as well as supplies of rice, maize and millet.
At Birjingo, families of three people killed in the attack received the same N1m financial assistance and food support, while six injured residents got N250,000 each with bags of the three food items.
At Gorau, where a boat accident reportedly claimed 65 lives, each bereaved household was presented with N1m, two bags of maize, two bags of millet and a bag of rice.
Wamakko, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, expressed sympathy to the affected families and assured them that the government would not abandon communities facing insecurity.
“I am sure you must have seen the recent intervention by the state government, which included the provision of 62 armoured vehicles to security agencies to support their operations. The state government will continue to support our security agencies in their quest to curb the menace of insecurity in the state”, Wamakko said.
He called on residents in rural areas to cooperate with security agencies, expressing hope that the banditry affecting the state would eventually be contained.
“We also need to pray fervently for Allah’s intervention on insecurity and other challenges confronting our nation,” he said.
Wamakko further appealed to families who lost loved ones to accept the deaths as the will of Allah and prayed for the deceased and their surviving relatives.
Following the boat accident, the delegation announced the governor’s order against overloading boats in the affected communities.
The governor directed local government officials and the district head to enforce the measure strictly in order to reduce the risk of future boat accidents.
The delegation later visited Tsamaye in Sabon Birni Local Government Area to sympathise with residents following the death of the local APC chairman, Alhaji Amadu Malale.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, and Sabon Birni LGA Chairman, Hashimu Dantudu, commended the state government for the intervention, noting that the assistance would offer some relief to the affected families.
The delegation comprised Deputy Governor Idris Gobir, Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Tukur Bala Bodinga, APC State Chairman Haruna Adiya, Secretary to the State Government Muhammad Bello Sifawa, Chief of Staff Aminu Haliru Dikko, lawmakers, commissioners and other senior officials.
