Exodus: Fleeing herdsmen face gloomy conditions

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    The Northern Region Security Council is considering using schools as temporary accommodations for Fulanis fleeing further attacks from Komkombas.

    Over 700 Fulanis are presently being sheltered at the Disabled Resource Centre in Gushiegu after 13 of them were killed last week in a dawn attack.

    The reason for the attack is yet unknown but the situation in their current location is even becoming precarious by the day.

    Joy News correspondent Mahama Shaibu reported that the mood in the temporary settlement is that of sorrow and disenchantment.

    According to him, the resource centre is bursting at its seams and there are fears an epidemic could break out, more so when the Harmattan season is in full throttle.

    He said the Fulanis have been crammed together because the building is too small and cannot contain the fleeing nomads.

    Regional NADMO coordinator, Ibrahim Mahama, also confirmed the pressure as a result of limited supplies of relief materials and tents.

    He said the nomads presently at the resource centre constitute 143 females, 73 males and 500 children.

    Ibrahim Mahama called on the national NADMO office to come to their aid.

    His appeal appears to have been considered by the Northern Regional Minister Moses Mabengba, who told Joy News his outfit is liaising with NADMO office to ensure the conditions at the resource centre is improved.

    He said the Fulanis would be kept at the current location until it is safe for them to be re-integrated, explaining that the regional Security Council has had a number of meetings with the nomads as well as opinion leaders in the Gushiegu district to resolve whatever may have resulted in the attacks.

    He was unequivocal in the council’s search for the killers and reassured the nomads of their security at their present location.

    Mabengba admitted the current location was too small to accommodate the nomads and hinted his outfit would be using classrooms as temporary accommodation for the nomads when schools vacate for the Christmas festivities.