7th January, 2021
The Garkida Town in Adamawa has called for the State and Federal Governments’ urgent measures to ameliorate the people’s plight, following alleged Boko Haram’s repeated attacks.
The community came under severe attacks in February and December 2020 by armed bandits suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr Samuel Midala, a pastor and Convener of Project Protect Garkida, made the call on Thursday at a news briefing in Yola.
Midala said it was imperative for both the state and federal governments to visit the community in order to assess the extent of destruction inflicted on the area and its people.
He said that the peace-loving people suffered huge psychological trauma from the attacks, hence the need for government’s quick intervention to ameliorate their plight.
“Garkida people are traumatised, there is palpable fear in the air and urgent rehabilitation work is dearly needed.
“We, therefore, call on the state and federal governments, our representatives at the National and State Assemblies and security agencies to come and assess the damage caused by the insurgents on Garkida town and its people,” Midala said.
He said that the assessment would help to spur the authorities to take measures toward alleviating the trauma and difficult living condition of the people.
He said that the people were ready and willing to work with security agencies to safeguard the community.
Midala thanked the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their intervention in neutralising the activities of the insurgents.
He, however, called for more vigilance, collaboration, commitment and dedication by all the security agencies to the protection of lives and property of Garkida people and all Nigerians.
He also charged Garkida youths and women “to look inward, take responsibility and remain alert and security conscious at all times.