Yobe gives cash, relief items to Sheruri fire victims
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has assisted the victims of last week’s fire disaster at Sheruri village in Gambir Ward of Damaturu Local Government Area with cash, food and other items.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mohammed Goje, while speaking on the disaster, said the support followed the on-the-spot assessment and Governor Mai Mala Buni’s directive on immediate assistance to the victims.
Goje said the incident, which happened from an unknown source around 2.30pm last Friday, affected a total of 140 persons directly.
The executive secretary stated that the victims, mostly farmers, had lost their food silos among other belongings as the inferno razed most part of the village.
“As
directed
by
His
Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the SEMA, alongside the local government team, has already conducted assessment and responded within 48 hours with firstline support to cushion their hardship.
“Each household was supported with N20, 000 as well as 3 to 4 mattress, 4 to 5 poly mats, clothes, plastic shoes, plastic buckets, 3 to 4 pcs wrappers, 7 mosquito nets, 7 to 9 children’s clothes, wash kits (soap, water container, kettle, detergents, cups, plates), a bag of rice, a bag of beans,” Goje said.
The village and ward heads of the community said this was the first time in over 50 years that they were experiencing such a disaster and that it happened when all the men were out for Jumma’at prayers.
“Despite the losses, we thank God for sparing our lives as no life was lost. As believers, we accept it.
“We also thanked the Yobe State Government under the able leadership of Governor
Buni for the support though we need more, especially now that we are in the month of Ramadan,” they said.
They equally appealed to the wealthy individuals and philanthropists to complement the efforts of the state government as many people who lost their belongings had nowhere to go.