Governor Aminu Masari says his administration has earmarked N100 million for the rehabilitation of Shinfida village affected by banditry in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.

“Currently, we are spending over N100 million to rehabilitate Shinfida village, which was sacked and burnt by bandits that forced 13,500 people to move to the Niger Republic,” Mr Masari said while responding to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who was in Katsina for his presidential ambition.

The governor stated that his administration had sent food to the affected families, adding that the military was back in Shinfida.

“When the Shinfida people left, the bandits burnt the village and vandalised everything.

“Critical to us is the security and rehabilitation of those villages and communities, restoring their economic way of life and providing basic education,” he said. 

He added that although some internally displaced persons (IDPs) had started returning to the community, many are still refugees in neighbouring communities in the Niger Republic.

Mr Masari said the critical and urgent need of the state was the rehabilitation of the rural economy of the most affected victims.

He lamented that residents of the state, particularly those living in 13 LGAs that bordered Rugu forest had suffered severe attacks and killings by the terrorists. 

Mr Masari noted that the state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), would prioritise the education of the banditry-orphaned children and widows across the frontline areas of the state.

The governor added that widows would be provided with financial support to start local businesses for self-reliance

“We have completed a census of all women who lost their husbands. We have the list of all the orphans, widows and the destroyed houses.

“Already we have started work with UNDP who are coming in to help in some of the areas, particularly education of the orphans,” Mr Masari said. 

(NAN)