By PALANG KASMI
The Programme Coordinator of Stefanos Foundation, Jos, Nigeria, Engr. Mark Lipdo has tasked government and security agencies to ensure they spearhead the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the recent attacks in Plateau State to their abodes.
He also tasked security operatives to increase their presence in the affected communities that were ransacked by the attackers and address the real issues that brought about the killings.
Lipdo spoke in an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD. He raised concerns and proffered solutions on the humanitarian situation in Bokkos, Mangu and other LGAs affected by the attacks.
Stefanos Foundation is a faith based Christian NGO working in Nigeria for over a decade. It protects the rights of persecuted Christians by providing data, physical interventions and psychosocial support.
The Programme Coordinator said these strategies must be urgently done because the over 200 displaced IDP’s across the LGAs cannot continue living in camps.
He said “The humanitarian crisis in Bokkos and Mangu LGAs is alarming, there is food crisis. The world is also facing food crisis in the years ahead.
“Some of the places affected and attacked in the state are the food basket, therefore we must find a way around it”.
Lipdo said 3 dimensional approaches, which are the immediate, medium and long term solutions to address the humanitarian crisis in the affected areas should be embarked upon by stakeholders and the authorities.
“For the immediate solution, the IDPs need food 3 times a day, it is an everyday affair. We went there and the interventions being brought to support them are more like a drop of water in the ocean. Many non governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals are also going with food and supplies support, but the IDPs still cry for shortage of food”.
He pointed out that “Bokkos is a big LGA. The management of what they have and structure on ground at the camp to run the displaced persons should be managed well, because IDPs camp is a meeting place, and once people know this is where we will come and get food, that will be a spot for some people to get free food from. So the management structure has to be put well, to ensure the intervention is stricter and properly handled so that it reaches all, even if it means building a fence and gate, where people will have to pass through to come in so that you have data of people really affected. There should also be structured accommodation and shelter”.
Lipdo explained that “On our list, the people affected are about 200 families, and we have their names. But in an event where they are dropping food here and there, if you don’t structure it well, it will be a problem. Then in the long term, you have to be sure that those places are secured. This is where people have been misplaced”.
The Programme Coordinator tasked security operatives to be more proactive in protecting and supporting the IDPs to return back to their abodes.
According to Lipdo, “Security men have to be there on daily basis and permanently, so that they give confidence to the people to return.
“You can’t keep having these thousands of people displaced from their homes in one place. They need to return to their abodes and their farms. Very soon the rainy season will set in and yet their farm crops, which they cultivated in the dry season have not been catered for due to their displacement”, he stressed.
“Therefore, like other right thinking people, I would imagine that the Federal Government will be directing its attention and making sure that those attacked communities are secured. And then the roofing will be replaced for those houses that were burnt, so that the people would return”, he added
Lipdo, who used the forum to further express concerns on the root causes of the killings, said, “But the real situation that has brought about the crisis has not been addressed, let alone the security.
“We have gone all round the areas and the security agents are not there. Even in Bokkos, it is not in all places that you see the soldiers. Unfortunately, those who attempted to go back to their farms to harvest their crops were killed. Some of them ended up with their hands chopped off”, Lipdo stated.
“There is a man in the hospital, who went back to harvest his crops and his hands were chopped off by the Fulanis. So, these are issues that are making it difficult for the people to go back. At the long run, we will all pay for it”.
He suggested that based on these realities, the long term solution is to provide security and make sure the people are back to their houses.
“Encourage the people to go back because we can’t all leave our homes to make sure those parts are secured. Make sure their communities are peaceful for them to return”, he advised.
