New Telegraph

Insecurity: 11m Nigerians need humanitarian assistance –UN Rep

The Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, yesterday gave startling estimates on the humanitarian crises in Nigeria, saying about 11 million Nigerians needed humanitarian assistance.

 

The UN helmsman also disclosed that the 2020 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) ranked Nigeria third behind Afghanistan and Iraq as countries enmeshed in global terrorism.

 

This is even as Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, accused the President Mohammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government of allegedly collaborating with foreign armed Fulani bandits “to Islamize and Fulanize the country and chase away the people to forcefully take over the land”.

 

The governor also renewed his calls for the convocation of a National Security Summit to discuss growing security bottlenecks confronting the country. Kallon bared his mind during a farewell visit on Governor Ortom at the Government House in Makurdi. Kallon will be leaving the country after a successful five-year tenure.

 

According to the UN Diplomat, activities of herders/ farmers crisis in the North Central, Boko Haram in the North East and North West, Niger Delta Avengers and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have led to large scale migration and mass stay in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country.

 

He stated that Nigeria is at the crossroads with multiple challenges which have implications on peace, development and stability in West Africa, Africa and beyond, noting that cohesion, justice and the rule of law must be entrenched for the benefit of the country.

 

Kallon identified women and youth participation in politics and productive economic activities to reduce youth unemployment and underemployment which at the moment is a time bomb that must be dealt with decisively.

 

He stated that he was happy the world has been well informed about the atrocities in Benue State and elsewhere in the country, pointing out that the file will remain opened for all to peruse and expressed hope that an end to the atrocities committed by the terrorists was still in sight.

 

Ortom, while restating his call for a National Security Summit, said he was happy the state of the nation report was presented by representative of the United Nations and asked that same should be presented to the Presidency for action.

 

He stated that the antiopen grazing law validly promulgated by the state’s House of Assembly, is aimed at bringing enduring peace between herdsmen and farmers, adding that he had also made similar presentations and personally written to the Federal Government, through press statements and conferences, expressing worry that no place in Nigeria is safe at the moment.

 

“The ranching policy I introduced was aimed at bringing lasting peace between farmers and herdsmen but because these foreign herdsmen that have invaded the country are collaborating with the presidency to Islamize and Fulanize and to chase away other people.

 

That’s the agenda and they cannot run away; they have been exposed and everybody is aware of their tricks and game plan against other ethnic nationalities.

 

“If steps were taken in 2016 to 2017 when I saw the Fulani insurgents invading the country, Mr. President himself admitted that truly, the Fulani terrorists who are coming into the country to terrorize the people are Fulani terrorists from Mali, Niger, Chad, Senegal, Libya and Mauritania and so on and they come in without valid visas and documents.

 

“I feel sad, I weep for my country. Each time I talk, the presidency will talk about I have not paid salaries. If I have not paid salaries, is it not their responsibility to help me as they are helping other states and I am trying in my own way”.

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