Dr. Emmanuel Shior, the Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, has allayed concerns about potential future attacks on displaced persons’ camps by herders around the state.
Shior calmed the anxiety on Tuesday by providing food and non-food items to displaced people all around the state this month.
As the dry season approaches, he reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to safeguard the lives of both residents of the state and internally displaced people living in camps.
Recall how suspected herders attacked the Abagana IDP camp along the Makurdi/Laafia route last year, resulting in the deaths of seven persons.
Shior claimed that the state government was doing all possible to protect the lives and property of state residents, including those who were displaced and living in camps.
According to the SEMA boss, volunteers from the state’s communities were collaborating closely with regular security officers around the state to ensure the protection of people and property.
Shior said, “The security of lives and property is the responsibility of the Federal Government but since it seems that Federal Government is lacking here, the state government will not close it’s eyes to watch it’s citizens including displaced persons been attacked.
“You know that the state government of recent unveiled the Communty Guards, which is expected to work together with conventional security men to ensure protection of lives including that of IDPs.”
While acknowledging the intervention of donor organisations, NEMA and individuals across the country, Shior said that the agency had continued to distribute both food and non food items to victims of flood and herders attacks across the state.
