The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Monday, distributed relief materials to 1,400 victims of banditry from the Yauri, Shanga, and Bunza Local Government Areas of Kebbi.

The director-general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, who personally supervised the exercise in the Kalgo Local Government Area, said the intervention followed a joint assessment conducted with relevant stakeholders to ascertain the number of affected persons.

Ms Umar noted that the assessment informed both the quantity and category of items distributed, stressing that the agency’s interventions were evidence-based and impact-driven.

She said that NEMA, through its operations office in Sokoto State, conducted the assessment to determine the magnitude of the incident and identify citizens’ needs.

“The items, which comprise both food and non-food materials, are intended to cushion the immediate hardship faced by the affected households. They are practical expressions of care, solidarity, and shared responsibility in times of distress.

“NEMA, as the coordinating agency for disaster management in Nigeria, remains committed to ensuring that no affected community is left without support,” she said.

Ms Umar said she also visited Kebbi to inspect the ongoing federal government resettlement project for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

According to her, the items distributed include 1,400 bags of 25kg rice, 1,400 bags of 25kg maize, and 1,400 bags of 25kg beans.

“Others are 140 bags of iodised salt, 140 cartons of tomato paste (50 sachets each), 150 cartons of spaghetti (20 packs of 500g each), 140 cartons of seasoning cubes, 150 cartons of detergent, and 140 cartons of five-litre vegetable oil (four per carton).

“Also included are 500 pieces of wax print fabric and 500 pieces of guinea brocade,” she said.

The NEMA boss urged beneficiaries and community leaders to ensure the judicious and transparent use of the items.

The secretary to the Kebbi State government, Yakubu Bala-Tafida, represented by the permanent secretary, Cabinet Office, Nasir Abubakar-Kigau, commended NEMA for the timely intervention.

In her remarks, the wife of the Kebbi governor, Zainab Nasare-Nasir, lauded NEMA for complementing the state government’s efforts.

She described the intervention as a demonstration of genuine solidarity with affected communities, particularly women and children who often bear the heaviest burden of displacement caused by armed attacks.

Also, the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammad Iyasu-Bashir, represented by Abdullahi Umar, the Wazirin Gwandu, said, “Our people have endured tremendous hardship. We are grateful for this support, and we call on the federal government to continue to look our way.”

(NAN)