A group, the Coalition of Erena Association (COEA) has raised the alarm over a severe humanitarian crisis brewing in Erena, a community in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.
TheStories recalls that the Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago after winning election, said his government was open to dialogue with bandits in a bid to tame the tide of insecurity in the state.
He then said that there was a need to degrade the capabilities of bandits and halt the menace of insecurity in the state.
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“The Governor said the state government is adopting a non-kinetic approach in tackling insecurity in the state as all options for resolving security threats were opened including the establishment of a new Ministry for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, to among other things, identify the concerns of herdsmen.”
The iinsecurity has continued unabated in the state, as in other states across Nigeria.
The Information Officer at Shiroro Local Government Council, Abubakar Abdullahi in a statement issued on behalf of the President of the Coalition of Erena Association (COEA), Mohammed Musa on Saturday, said that the displaced residents were currently seeking refuge at the Erena TownHall after escaping an attack by terrorists.
“The COEA appeald to the Federal and State Governments through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) for immediate assistance to internally displaced persons currently seeking refuge at Erena Town Hall. These individuals narrowly escaped an attack by unknown gunmen in Yelwa village via Allawa community.”
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He alarmed that the displaced families are in urgent need of medical attention, food assistance well, and other relief materials.
Abdullahi highlighted the experiences of some of the displaced persons stating that “One refugee reported the kidnapping of one of his wives and two daughters by the unknown gunmen. The families fled with nothing in hand, facing the aftermath of this tragic event.”
He further urged the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management Agency to urgently respond to the needs of the refugees.
