Borno attacks: Emergency committee distributes materials to victims

The Emergency Relief Committee constituted by the Borno state government to assist victims of last Friday’s Boko Haram deadly attacks, yesterday distributed relief materials and cash for five communities.

Several truck loads of assorted foodstuffs, plastic buckets, matrasses, blankets and clothing materials among others, were presented to the victims.

Our correspondent recalled that several persons including, security men, and civilians were killed when suspected Boko Haram militants launched an attack in Maiduguri and targetted 21 Armored Brigade, Giwa barracks as well as civilian locations.

Sequel to this, Governor Kashim Shettima, who was out of the country on official engagement when the incident occurred, had constituted a high-powered committee to provide temporary shelter and relief materials for the displaced persons.

Chairman of the committee, Bulama Mali Gubio, led other members to donate assorted relief materials and cash to the 21 Armored Brigade, Giwa barracks, Fouri, Foreri, Gambori, Koreri and Wadiya communities.

While at the barracks, Gubio presented the materials and N1 million cash to the representative of the Brigade Commander, Col. John Ekperere on behalf of Governor Shettima.

He said the gesture was not meant to pay for the lives and property lost in the attack, rather it was a palliative to cushion the sufferings of the military personnel who were wounded or lost their belongings.

He said Governor Shettima has directed the committee to extend government sympathy to the military community over the unfortunate incident.

Gubio added that government would continue to support the security forces to ensure the return of normalcy to the entire state.

Receiving the donation, Col. Ekperere, thanked the government over the gesture, noting that security forces would not relent in their efforts to guarantee the safety and properties of the people in the state.