How NGO is giving succour to victims of terrorists attacks in Sokoto

Indepth
June 18, 2023
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By Aminu Alhussaini

In recent years, communities in Sokoto state in the northwestern part of the country have come under attacks from terrorists amid raging insecurity.

The development has led to the death of many and displaced several families. The victims of the lingering attacks are faced with harsh realities — pains, hunger, poverty, and unbearable trauma.

Goronyo local government area (LGA) is one of the areas worst hit by the insecurity, orchestrated by terror groups locally known as bandits.

Others LGAs are Gada, Gwadabawa, Illela, Isa, Sabon Birni and Tangaza. Amid the ensuing melee, many are fleeing their homes to seek safety in other areas.

It is understood that about 50,000 residents from 17 affected communities in Sabon Birni are currently taking refuge at Dan Dadji Makaou, Shadakori and Garin Kaka villages in Maradi, Niger Republic.

In its report, the UN said the insecurity in Sokoto has displaced 71,289 persons and caused the cross-border movement of 80,900 refugees.

HOMELESS BUT NOT HOPELESS

Khadija Umar, 40, had a close shave with death but she was lucky not to be killed during repeated attacks by bandits on her community located in Isa LGA of Sokoto.

But her husband and other relatives were not lucky. They died during the attacks.

Umar fled her community at the time and now resides in one of the IDP camps at Ramen Kura within the metropolitan area of Sokoto state.

While she was lucky not to have been killed by the terrorists, she has been living from hand to mouth as the insecurity affected her means of livelihood.

Now, she depends on alms to survive.

However, Fasaudat Support Foundation is changing the narrative for her and others displaced by the insecurity.

“When our community came under attack, we were camped in some schools, before we were put on buses and brought to Sokoto metropolis,” she said.

“We relied on alms to feed ourself, before Fasaudat support foundation, the situation reduce to the bearest minimal”.

THE FASAUDAT SUPPORT FOUNDATION INTERVENTION

Fasaudat Support Foundation is a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and enhancing the social well-being of the people, particularly the poor.

Through numerous charitable projects, the foundation is giving succour to several affected families in Ramen Kura — Vegetables Market — and other parts of the state.

Recently, the foundation donated a truck load of relief materials to them. The foundation’s visit to the IDP camp was part of its routine outreach to help those in need.

At the IDP camp, the foundation donated various items such as bags of 50kg rice, cartons of Indomie, groundnut oil as well as cartons of detergent and bathing soap.

Others are cartons of milk, Bournvita, Milo and bags of Sugar.

Founder of the foundation, Hajiya Fatima Ahmad Maigari, said the visit was to identify with the IDPs and render humanitarian services to them.

Maigari added that the foundation had always strived to reach out to the most vulnerable people so as to help them meet their basic needs.

“We should collectively come together to assist the less privileged in our communities especially those displaced from their own communities due to insurgency,” she said.

“It is with high sense of humility and our commitment to continue to provide succour for the less privileged in our society that we are here today to pay a humanitarian visit to the occupants of this camp.

“We esterblished the foundation to support the children spiritually and morallt, build non paying nursery and primary School for kinds of less provileged, as wekk as work and affiliate with national and international charitable organization.

“We sincerely pray to God for you for quickly return to your communities to start life in a better way she added during the visitation”.

On his part, Binta Abubakar, a leader in the camp, applauded efforts of the foundation and called on others to emulate the group’s gesture.

“Before coming to our aide by this foundation we normally faces serious challenge especially our basic needs, but Alhamdulillah with the gesture of Fasaudat Support Foundation we leave normal live”.

Apart from Fasaudat Support Foundation, other Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like Assatahir International Foundation, Crystal Muslim Organization, and Sa’ar Mata Foundation are also making efforts to support IDPs in Sokoto metropolis.

Below are photos of Fasaudat Support Foundation’s team during recent visit to the IDP: