23,950 Displaced in Jos –Commissioner

Hajiya Hadiza Kangiwa, the Federal Commissioner for National Commission of Refugees, announced this in an interview with  newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

She said the commission got the figure after conducting a thorough head count of the victims in the camps. Kangiwa said the victims had been assisted with some relief materials including food stuff, water storage facilities, sleeping materials, medical facilities, and detergent.

Giving the breakdown, Kangiwa said 3,000 persons were residing at the NDLEA centre, while 2,500 were at the Police Staff College.

She said 2,000 were camped at the Air Force Base while 1,450 were at the Multi Troups/Training Centre.

In other locations, she said, 3,000 were camped at the GOC Rukuba Barracks, and 3,000 at the Cocin, Catholic, Baptist and Rudan Primary School. She said 6,000 remained at the Bukuru B Division and 3,000 at the Central Mosque.

“As soon as the crisis erupted between January 18, and 19, we communicated with our NGOs to give us assessment of the situation; we collaborated with the military to give us statistics and the location of this people. We immediately got to the scene and were able to locate about eight camps and ensured that the items were distributed to the people,’’ Kangiwa said.

Kangiwa, who decried the gory conditions of the victims, called on Nigerians to ensure peaceful co-existence and shun acts that put people through harrowing expereince. She further advised them to always channel their resources towards the development of the country, instead of killing one another.

“All together, we have a total number of 31,826 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in both Jos and Bauchi crises. Out of the figures, 35 per cent are women, children 30, elderly 15, men and others 20,’’ she said. She said the commission would open a Skills Acquisition Centre for the victims of the crisis. (NAN)