9,637 Displaced Persons In Northwest Nigeria In Dire Need Of Humanitarian Aid
Almost 10,000 people across communities in Zamfara state, Northwest Nigeria, are in critical need of humanitarian assistance with incessant terrorist attacks.
About 9,637 persons displaced by the activities of terrorists operating in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria are currently facing a serious humanitarian crisis as they are in dire need of food, HumAngle can report.
This follows a recent terrorist attack on Friday, July 2, 2021 on 11 communities including Barikin Daji, Lonke, Loni, Kwado, Karaye, Marina, Babban Rafi, Yar-Gusau, Gwalli in Gummi Local Government Area of the state.
The displaced persons fled their communities when the terrorists launched the attacks during which they embarked on a house-to-house search.
From that Friday, July 2, to the time of filing this report, the villagers have been scared to go back to their communities while bodies of those killed by the terrorists are yet to be identified.
Lauwali Maman, a victim of the attack who narrowly escaped several gunshots from the terrorists, told HumAngle that the number of those killed was still unknown.
He said the terrorists have laid siege on the communities.
Another victim of the attack who pleaded anonymity lamented that “we went to our local authorities including the Gummi Emirate Council to plead for the deployment of soldiers to escort us to the attacked villages and look for the dead bodies as they began to rot, at least before dogs eat and destroy them.”
“But we are all abandoned and nobody could listen to our appeal. We need to gather the corpses of our dead siblings for burial.”
Alhaji Bala (Marafan Barikin Daji), the village head of the area, lamented the magnitude of the attack and the aftermath on his people.
“I have never seen this magnitude of a disaster throughout the history of banditry and terrorism in my domain like this time,” he said.
“In fact, to this moment we cannot confirm the number of our people killed and with their corpses scattered around houses, streets, and inside bushes.”
“There has been no government presence in the entire area for years, except for a few runaway soldiers deployed just here in Gwalli but were recently attacked and had their guns and uniforms confiscated by the terrorist.”
He confirmed that there are at least 9,637 persons roaming around in Gummi metropolis.
“Some of the children are beginning to die owing to serious malnutrition and intense hunger. We need help for our children to survive first, then we later think of where to sleep or live,” Marafa explained.
He hinted that other villagers ran to places such as Maga, Ribah, Rijau, Kajiji, Danko, Garin Hausawa, Mahuta, Jabo in Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto states as IDPs.
“We have about 5,234 children who are not only out of school but starved by hunger. Widows and homeless persons are now pouring into Gummi streets desperately searching for food to eat.”
“Our farmers are no longer at work again, no business to survive, no work to do, and no shelter, no protection, not even the cloth to wear.”
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