Sokoto Govt Gives N100m, Food Items To Bandit, Boat Mishap Victims

The Sokoto State Government has provided more than N100 million and 408 bags of assorted food items to families affected by bandit attacks and a recent boat accident in Wurno and Goronyo Local Government Areas of the state.

The intervention was announced on Monday during condolence visits by a high-powered state government delegation led by the state APC leader and former governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, to Dinawa, Birjingo and Gorau communities.

At Dinawa, the families of seven people killed in a bandit attack received N1 million each, as well as two bags each of maize and millet and one bag of rice.

Five persons injured in the attack were also given N250,000 each, alongside bags of rice, millet and maize.

Similarly, the families of the three people killed in Birjingo received N1 million each, two bags each of maize and millet, and one bag of rice. Six injured victims were given N250,000 each and bags of the three food items.

In Gorau, where 65 people reportedly lost their lives in a boat mishap, each bereaved family received N1 million, two bags each of maize and millet, and one bag of rice.

Speaking during the visits, Wamakko, who represented Governor Ahmed Aliyu, expressed sympathy with the affected communities and assured residents of the government’s continued support for security agencies in efforts to address insecurity.

“I am sure you must have seen the recent intervention by the state government, which included the provision of 62 armoured vehicles to security agencies to support their operations. The state government will continue to support our security agencies in their quest to curb the menace of insecurity in the state”, Wamakko said.

The former governor expressed confidence that banditry would eventually be brought under control and called on rural communities to work closely with security agencies.

“We also need to pray fervently for Allah’s intervention on insecurity and other challenges confronting our nation,” he said.

He urged the bereaved families to accept the deaths as the will of Almighty Allah, while praying for the repose of the deceased and strength for those they left behind.

During the visit to Gorau, the delegation also conveyed Governor Aliyu’s directive for an immediate end to the overloading of boats, which has been identified as a major cause of boat accidents in the area.

The governor directed the relevant local government authorities and the district head to take strict measures to enforce the directive and prevent further loss of lives.

The delegation also paid a condolence visit to Tsamaye in Sabon Birni Local Government Area over the death of the local APC chairman, Alhaji Amadu Malale.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, and the Chairman of Sabon Birni LGA, Hashimu Dantudu, commended the state government for its support and intervention.

They said the assistance would provide some relief to the affected families during a difficult period.

Other members of the delegation included Deputy Governor Idris Gobir; Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga; APC State Chairman, Haruna Adiya; Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; Chief of Staff, Aminu Haliru Dikko; as well as lawmakers, commissioners and other senior government officials.