Attending to the educational needs of victims of banditry has been at the forefront of the government and organisations, given the incessant rate of banditry that has forced many out of their homes and schools.Katsina State has the highest rate of banditry in the northwest zone.
This has prompted attention of both internal and international organisations to partner with the state government in assisting victims of banditry primarily those who are studying. The recent scholarship award of N25 million to 197 students selected from nine tertiary institutions of the state by the Victims Support Fund (VSF) foundation, was among several humanitarian assistance given to cushion effect of banditry on Katsina State indigenes.
In this trench of disbursement by the VSF, each student were given N120,000 to N250,000 to support their tuition fees, transportation and other upkeep to complete their education.The chairperson of the Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma Foundation (VSF), Prof. Nana Tanko, said the foundation has budgeted about N250 million this year to support victims of banditry in the state, stressing that the remaining N225 million will be used to support the livelihood of the people, build peace and to heal those traumatised by the attacks.”
The first level of disbursement to the tertiary institutions, covers their fees and other items, while the other trench will be paid directly to the students through their bank accounts as monthly stipends that covers their transportation for the year. The range per student is between N120,000 to N250,000 per annum,” she said.
Jamala Sale, a final year student of Federal Polytechnic, Daura, thanked the VSF for the support, saying the fund will go a long way to assist her in completing her programme. She added that her guardians who struggled in paying her fees are also happy with the gesture.
Governor Umar Dikko Radda, who was represented by the commissioner for special Duties, Isah Muhammed, said the humanitarian assistance to victims of banditry has been part of the present administration’s plans especially in the affected local government areas of the state.
He said the government has provided free medication and financial support to affected victims of banditry in various communities to reduce tension, adding that the government also sponsored 41 students to Egypt to study medical courses.The commissioner stressed that the government would not relent in its effort to pay examination fees for students writing the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) in the state, adding that the priority of the government is security.
