Return To Your Villages, Gaidam Pleads With Yobe Refugees In Niger Republic

SAN FRANCISCO, December 29, (THEWILL) – Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State weekend appealed to fleeing residents of the state now taking refuge in Niger Republic to return to their villages, assuring them that the security forces would give them the needed protection.

Gaidam made the appeal to the over 4,000 Borno refugees, mostly from Gaidam, Kanamma and Yunusari, when he visited them in their place of refuge in Maine Soroa, Niger Republic.

The Yobe governor, who visited the refugees who had fled to the neighbouring country following last week's insurgents attack on their towns, was conducted round the refugee camp by the Premier of Diffa region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman.

Usman told Gaidam that the over 1,000 Yobe refugees at the camp were allowed to settle in the area and are being fed by the Niger Government while 3,000 others live with friends and relatives in Maine Soroa town.

Pleading with them to return home, Governor Gaidam assured them that his Government will continue to support them wherever they are.

However, some of the refugees lamented that they were left to their own fate by security operatives in Yobe when the Boko Haram insurgents struck.

They asked the governor to put adequate security in place before they could return.

Meanwhile, the governor also paid a visit to the northern Yobe town of Geidam to commiserate with the people and assure them of support after the Boko Haram attack.

While on the visit, Gaidam inspected the Military base in the area, the Divisional police station, the Local Government Secretariat and the Geidam market as well public and private property damaged by the insurgents, assuring residents of the town of his government's support.

Condoling with the families of victims of the attack and the people of the town generally, Governor Gaidam described the attack as wicked, sinful and brutal.

The governor, who instructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide food and other relief materials to the people of the town within the next four days, announced the formation of a relief committee to compile a comprehensive report on losses incurred during the attack, assuring that the people would be supported.

The committee is made up of the SEMA, two State Assembly members, two commissioners from Geidam town and the chairman of the Gaidam Market Association, among other elders.