The Zamfara State Government said bandit attacks have left over 700,000 persons displaced in the state. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna.
This is as the state government has recruited 4,200 community protection guards, including ex-servicemen.
Dosara said the humanitarian ministry in the state had established eight centres to take care of the IDPs across the state.
He said each of the 14 local government areas of the state currently had emergency relief desk officers shouldering the responsibilities of assisting the IDPs in their respective local government.
“In addition to the provision of food items, clothing, bed, mattresses, etc., by the state government, the ministry appreciates the untiring efforts of the international donor agencies in this regard.
“These donor agencies complement the efforts of the state government through cash transfer to our IDPs ranging from N30,000 to N40,000 periodically to these victims.
“The federal government too has been committing huge sum in this regard. The Zamfara state government remains grateful to all who contributes in relieving the worries of these innocent people across the state,” he said.
The commissioner said the humanitarian ministry had embarked on training some of the victims of the banditry on skills acquisition programmes.
According to him, the training is on tailoring, barbing, sachet water making, among others.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Security and Homes Affairs, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, said the state had recruited 4,200 community protection guards comprising ex-servicemen, volunteer able-bodied men and other patriotic citizens of the state willing to support security operatives to confront the bandits in their enclaves.
He said the guards were trained on arms handling to support security agencies.
