Bauchi Attacks: UNICEF, Gombe govt support displaced women, children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Gombe State Government, on Friday supported internally displaced persons especially women and children sheltering in a camp in the state.

The displaced persons are from communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, following attacks by bandits on their villages.

The victims are currently staying in a camp located in Kashere town of Akko Local Government Area, Gombe State.

Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said the intervention aimed to prevent disease outbreaks and improve conditions in the camp.

She expressed concern over poor sanitation and stressed the need to strengthen hygiene practices to safeguard the health of women and children.

“UNICEF is here especially to support immunisation and health services for pregnant and lactating mothers, including deliveries at a nearby facility where services are available.

“Today we distributed hygiene and dignity kits because sanitation is very poor here and hygiene must improve to prevent cholera and other diseases.

“We have given almost 600 dignity and WASH kits to be used judiciously to improve hygiene at the camp,” she said.

Rafique said vaccination had also begun for many children who had not previously received routine immunisation.

She explained that several zero-dose children at the camp were now being covered under the immunisation programme.

According to her, children who had never attended school were also being supported through plans to establish temporary learning facilities.

“So we will establish a safe learning space so these children can begin learning and continue when they return to their communities,” she said.

Rafique commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi states for supporting displaced persons.

She also praised the host community for helping to manage the camp and maintain order among residents.

Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, said health interventions were ongoing to support displaced families.

Shuaibu said the agency had supplied free medicines to improve access to treatment for residents at the camp.

He noted that children’s health remained a priority, with several zero-dose children already vaccinated.

According to him, two children had died in the camp while two babies had been delivered since the displaced families arrived.

Shuaibu said that about 300 children had received routine immunisation as of Thursday.

He added that 33 children previously classified as zero-dose had also been vaccinated.

The state government, he said, was working with UNICEF to provide therapeutic food for malnourished children.

Chairman of the camp committee, Umar Badiko, said the displaced families arrived on Feb. 24 after attacks on their communities.

He explained they fled from Digare, Mansur, Yelo and Gwana wards in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

Badiko said children accounted for between 3,000 and 4,000 of the camp’s 7,000 residents.

He warned that the high number of children increased the risk of disease outbreaks.

According to him, UNICEF’s intervention helped prevent serious health crises in the camp.

He said poor hygiene and widespread open defecation had earlier raised fears of disease outbreaks.

Badiko lamented the shortage of sanitation facilities at the camp.

He said only 20 toilets currently served the entire population of about 7,000 displaced persons.

He appealed for urgent construction of additional toilets to discourage open defecation and improve sanitation.

Some displaced women commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi stated, as well as UNICEF, for supporting them.

They said food supplies, medicines and medical services were being provided free at the camp.

However, some mothers with malnourished children appealed for urgent assistance to treat the condition and reverse the effects of malnutrition.

Bauchi Attacks: UNICEF, Gombe govt support displaced women, children

Police arrest three suspected kidnappers in Gombe

By: Zagazola Makama

The Gombe State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers following a tip-off from credible intelligence, sources said on Friday.

Police sources said the suspects were apprehended on March 10 at about 10:00 p.m. by operatives working in conjunction with local hunters.

The arrested suspects were identified as Mohammed Abubakar, 29; Mohammed Bello, 23; and Mohammadu Ali, 25, all residents of Galda Village, Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.

According to the report, the suspects were planning to carry out a kidnapping in an unspecified location in Bauchi State. Upon interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the planned crime.

Police said investigations were ongoing to uncover further details and apprehend any other accomplices involved in the plot.

Police arrest three suspected kidnappers in Gombe

Youths attack and kill two army officers while responding to dispute in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama

Two army officers, including an intelligence officer, were reportedly killed during a violent clash between youths in a disputed crisis zone between Isabang and Alesi communities in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident followed a conflict on March 11 when Ibrahim Musa, a 25-year-old miner from Kusa, who deals in tin ore at Ekuri village, was allegedly beaten by youths at a village checkpoint and had his mined minerals seized.

The miner reportedly reported the attack to soldiers stationed at 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, near Jenifer Etuh’s Hospital in Ochon. Troops responded by moving into the forest to arrest four youths allegedly involved in the attack.

Residents said other youths blocked the access road to prevent the arrest and attacked the soldiers. In response, they fired which resulted to the injuries of four persons, including Christopher Agara, 27, and Ogobi Egbe, 30, while two others were evacuated for native treatment.

The attack resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.

Additional troops have since deployed additional personnel to restore order in the area, and normalcy has reportedly returned.

Youths attack and kill two army officers while responding to dispute in Cross River