A delegation of Senate led by the Senate President will visit displaced persons’ camps in the North East region to commiserate with the them. The decision was taken during a plenary on Wednesday following a motion sponsored by Senator George Sekibo and 37 others.
Sekibo noted with dismay the infrastructural damages caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East zone of the country, especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. “Aware that since the inception of insurgents assaults in the region several government institutions such as educational and health institutions as well as the Police, the Customs, the Immigration and Military barracks have been completely destroyed with no offices and facilities for use by the institution affected” Sekibo said
He added that thousands of personal buildings and properties, social amenities and infrastructures such as electricity and telephone services have been destroyed in the region. The Senator observed that the livelihood of many indigenes of the area have been disrupted and majority of the people are either in IDP camps or helplessly roaming the streets without any hope for their future.
Sekibo feared that such situation where people are kept without hope for future would encourage them to give themselves as recruits of the Boko Haram sect. He also expressed worries over government’s inability to rehabilitate and rebuild infrastructures of the areas that have been taken back from the insurgents.
He prayed that the Senate do condemn the continual assault on the people of the North East Zone and other parts of the country by the Boko Haram elements and also urge the President to do everything within his powers as provided by the Constitution to eradicate the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
The Senator also prayed that the Senate should urge the President to establish a Presidential Intervention Committee on the Rehabilitation of the North East Zone and direct its Committee on Special Duties to monitor the well-being of all internally displaced person in the country as a result of the insurgency. Additional prayers include commendation of the military and other security agencies working in North East and a delegation of Senate led by the Senate President will visit displace persons’ camps in the region.
Most Senators in their contribution supported the motion in their debate. In his contribution Senator Bukar Abba Ibrim said for 18 months he has not visited his home town. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Senators when it was put into voting by the Senate President.
The Senate President in his reaction said the challenge in the North East is a challenge to all Nigerians. He thanked the Senators for their contribution and promised that the Senate will ensure the fight against insurgency is well funded.
