Katsina, UNICEF Partner to Rehabilitate Victims of Banditry

Francis Sardauna

Katsina State Government is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to rehabilitate and provide psychosocial support to victims of banditry and other heinous crimes in the state.

The partnership was in response to the humanitarian emergency needs in the Northwest orchestrated by bandits in frontline states of the region.

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Kano Field Office, Elhadji Issakha Diop, revealed this yesterday, when he led other staff of the organisation on an advocacy visit to Governor Aminu Bello Masari in Katsina.

He said the organisation would visit the frontline local government areas in the state to ascertain the population and humanitarian needs of the victims in order to rehabilitate them and address their needs.

According to him, “Our main mandate is to make sure we safeguard and protect the rights of Nigerian children. It is very important that we have a good idea of the most affected areas in the state.

“We also want to have an idea of the number of internally displaced persons who are at high level of need so that we can mitigate and address those needs.”

He, however, explained that people are more familiar with the physical consequences caused by conflicts, but often ignore the invisible impact on mental health which is equally as dangerous and needs to be tackled.

Responding, Masari, represented by the Secretary to State Government, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, said the state was experiencing relative peace as a result of the rapprochement between government and the bandits.

“But one fundamental problem that needs to be addressed is the aftermath of the peace deal. Many of them (bandits) need rehabilitation not only the repentant bandits but also the farmers.