How Banditry Affected Livelihood In Kagara, Niger State – Report

A report by PRNigeria has revealed that incessant attacks against Chonoko community in Kebbi State, and Kagara community in Niger State have contributed immensely to the abrupt decline in professional healthcare delivery, educational services, and other humanitarian interventions in the states.

Apart from the heightened insecurity challenge, the report specifically noted that survival in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have become a herculean task as the people were seen in massive need of major human basic amenities such as food, water, shelter, among others.

The news platform, however, accused critical stakeholders in the state of hoarding relief materials donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to vulnerable communities.

A PRNigeria representative, Mukhtar Madobi disclosed this during a two-day workshop in Abuja titled: ‘Humanitarian Journalism for Economic Development’ while presenting an investigative study on humanitarian situation and plights of IDPs in Kebbi and Niger states.

It noted that education was another critical sector that was also badly hit due to insecurity. The findings showed that the majority of schools in those villages have been closed due to fear of bandit attacks.
“Farmers in some surrounding villages have resorted to paying levies to the bandits to gain access to their agricultural fields and conduct farming activities. Nevertheless, agricultural activities have reduced drastically thereby leading to a corresponding increase in food crisis.
“Most of the schools in villages are closed down due to fear of bandit attacks, thus affecting the education sector in that area.
“Healthcare system delivery is being dragged to the mud as the General Hospital was forced to offer skeletal services,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, some hospitals that are located within the towns have been turned to IDP camps where the victims are being accommodated.
It lamented that the situation has sent many students away from classes, thereby adding to the number of out-of-school children in the area and the country at large.