The Senate on Wednesday waded into communal clashes in
Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State by demanding the rehabilitation of
affected communities.
The position of the Senate was contained in
resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the
floor for consideration by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC-Kogi East).
According to the lawmaker, “Communal hostilities ravaged
most parts of the local government area in 2016 and 2019, rendering over
100,000 inhabitants of some of the communities homeless, leading to exodus of
these inhabitants to other parts of the state.”
He added that media reports indicated that about
100 people were killed in clashes involving the Igbira and Bassa Komi people,
and another 146 killed by ethnic militias in addition to the destruction of
properties worth millions of naira.
Senator Jibrin lamented that “educational
institutions have been destroyed, with many buildings and other facilities
completely burnt down, thereby making it absolutely difficult for the children
of the affected communities to access educational facilities.
“The destruction of schools, health centres has
obviously affected the health needs of
the affected communities as the few hitherto existing ones have been lost to hostilities,
and this has increased the rate of mortality in the affected communities.
“Markets, petrol stations, shops and various
business outfits in the affected communities have been completely destroyed,
thereby throwing people to an inevitable state of economic helplessness.”
The Senate in its resolutions accordingly urged the
Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social
Development to assist the affected communities with shelters, educational and
health facilities.
It also urged the ministry to provide minimal seed
capital for the women and youths in the affected communities to facilitate
their various economic activities.
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