BALI (TARABA) – The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Government to fast track their resettlement.
The spokesperson of the IDPS, Mr Gideon Chum, made the appeal when the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented relief materials to them in Bali, Taraba.
“We have been on camp for the past eight months now. We appreciate the government’s efforts and commitment to our welfare.
`But we cannot continue relying on the government and other people for our sustenance.
“We call on the government to restore security to our places of origins so that we can be useful to ourselves and the society,’’ he said.
The NEMA Head of Gombe Operations Office, Hajiya Zainab Umar, said that the materials were not compensations, but a token from the agency to reduce the people’s sufferings.
“The government is deeply distressed by your situation and is determined to ensure that you receive as much relief as possible,’’ she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Sylvanus Kundu, complained that the continued staying on camp was negatively affecting the education of their children.
“Our children have missed school for two consecutive terms already. We cannot afford their school fees as all of them need to be enrolled into new schools here in Bali,’’ Kundu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that ethnic and religious crisis had engulfed the local government for the past nine months.
The crisis had led to loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of many families. (NAN)