From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council in Rivers State, Mr Erastus Awortu, said he is partnering with security agencies to ensure safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Andoni taking refuse at Kaa in Khana LGA of the state.
This as the chairman has urged the refugees to cooperate with security agencies as they worked towards their safe return.
Awortu reiterated this during a visit alongside his counterpart, Mr Thomas Bariere, Chairman, Khana local government area to the IDP camp in Kaa Community.
The AUTHORITY gathered that relief materials and food items worth millions of Naira were distributed to over 5,000 refugees from 14 communities in Andoni.
Report also had it that the persons who equally lamented huge loss of properties and lives are currently taking refuge in the camp.
The council boss therefore, charged the refugees to contribute to the ongoing peace process in the area by reporting criminal elements to the security agencies.
“Do not cooperate with criminals, don’t show sympathy for them irrespective of the persons involved, truthfully, you have all heard very bitter experiences.
“When in the past you where acting as informants to cultists and making the area difficult for effective policing and for the security operatives to effectively intercept those criminals, you thought you were doing them good.
“Today the full weight of your actions have visited you and sacked you all from your ancestial homes, which is indeed a very sad narrative,” he said.
Worried over the plight of the refugees at the camp, the council boss assured on his preparedness to liese with the security agencies to return displaced persons to their homes in the next 10 days.
“The plight of our people is worrisome, here there are no makeshift tents for displaced persons, the children have been out of school for more than two months and huger is raveging the people.
“I will strive to ensure that this untold hardship does not continue under my watch but we all have a roll to play.
“We must cooperate with the security agencies, furnish them with all the information they need to effectively carry out their duties.
‘Thanks to technology, my phone line is open to complaints and the security agencies are equally ready to act on all distressed calls from Andoni with a view of completely riding that area of criminal elements,” he said.
On his part, Mr Thomas Bariere, Chairman, Khana Local Government Council, expressed willingness to partner his Andoni counterpart in his quest for lasting peace in the area.
