Afrobeat And Jazz Super Star, Femi Kuti Visits IDP's In Adamawa

Afrobeat and Jazz super star, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, is taking time off music for a humanitarian work in the Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Adamawa State.

Kuti, tweeted on his twitter handle, @femiakuti on Tuesday, “Off to Adamawa to continue my humanitarian work with the IRC in the IDP camps.’’

He had embarked on a similar visit in January to Maiduguri, as part of efforts to put smiles on the faces of the IDP’s especially children, in collaboration with the International Red Cross.

Femi Kuti Visits IDP's Camp in Maiduguri (PHOTO)

Renowned Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti, has urged celebrities and their fans to work with the government to help millions of people struggling to survive in Boko Haram-hit northeast Nigeria.

The Lagos-based Afrobeat star said he wanted to raise awareness among young Nigerians and encourage them to demand a greater humanitarian response, having visited Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Monday. “People need to have a sense of the reality in the northeast – from people walking around hungry to mothers with malnourished children,” Kuti said, during his visit.

“I hope more celebrities will visit and engage with their fans,” Kuti told the Thomson Reuters Foundation after accompanying the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on visits to local communities hosting the displaced and a health clinic.

“Then, more people will see what is going on, share it on social media, and put pressure on the government to do more.”Boko Haram’s insurgency has killed about 15,000 people and forced more than two million to flee their homes since 2009. The Nigerian army, backed up by neighbours, has retaken most areas held by the Islamist militants.

Yet the jihadist group has stepped up attacks and suicide bombings in the past few weeks as the end of the rainy season facilitates movements in the bush.

While calling on more support and aid for people in the northeast, Kuti said he was struck by the generosity of local communities towards those uprooted by the insurgency. “It is heartening to see so many displaced people welcomed into the homes of local families … and community elders offering to give up land to displaced for farming,” Kuti said.

In Maiduguri, which has seen its population almost triple to five million in recent years, there are signs a sense of normality is gradually returning to the city.

The curfew has been pushed back to 10p.m. from 6p.m. and clubs are packed and pulsating as DJs play the tunes of artists like Kuti and his late father Fela, the 1970s Afrobeat pioneer.

Officials Arrested For Selling IDP's Food

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture in Mafa LGA of Borno State, Umar Ibrahim; and four others for the alleged diversion of 300 bags of rice donated by Danish Refugee Council, a Non-Governmental Organisation and meant for Internally Displayed Persons in the council.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the arrest was triggered by intelligence report.

Others arrested along with the councillor are:

 Bulama Ali Zangebe , Modu Bulama, Halilu Abdullahi and Abacha Ali.

According to some of the suspects, the Caretaker Chairman of Mafa LGA, Shettima Maina, allegedly instructed the sale of the rice to the duo of Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim of Bolori Stores and Umar Salisu at the rate of N8,500 per bag

Imagine! Selling IDP's food.. These people must be prosecuted 

(PHOTONEWS): Buratai, Abba Kyari, Lai Mohammed Visit Shettima Over IDPs Bombing

Presidential Delegation led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari are here in Maiduguri to formally convey condolences to The Governor of Borno State. 

Many Feared Dead As Nigerian Jet Mistakenly Drops Bomb On IDP Camp

source: Premium Times
Several people are feared dead after a military plane mistakenly dropped a bomb inside the Rann IDP camp in Borno State.

The Rann IDP camp in Kala-balge Local Government Area caters for thousands of persons displaced by Boko Haram.

A source at the camp told PREMUM TIMES that at least hundred people were injured and needed to be evacuated to hospitals.

At least two people are feared dead from the incident and the injured included officials of the Doctors without Borders, MSF.

The military spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, a brigadier general, confirmed the incident but explained that it was an error that the military deeply regretted.

He explained that soldiers got information of movement of Boko Haram members and deployed ground troops and air cover to tackle the terrorists. It was the air support that mistakenly dropped the bomb.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the state government has already ordered all hospitals in Maiduguri to prepare to receive and promptly treat the injured.

Also, an International Red Cross, ICRC, helicopter has been deployed to the camp to evacuated the wounded to the various hospitals.

The Theatre Commander of Nigerian forces in Borno, Lucky Irabor, a major general, also confirmed the attack at a press conference.

“This morning today, we received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I directed that the air should go to address the problem. “Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected.

“We are yet to get the details of the casualties. But we have some civilians that have been killed, others are wounded and we also have two of our soldiers that were also wounded. Among some that are wounded are local staffs of the Medicine Sans Frontiers as well as ICRC,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES

Aisha Buhari Donates Building Materials, Food Items To Yobe IDP's

aisha buhari

In continuous efforts to rebuild the northeast region, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has presented some building materials and food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Yobe state.

The items are also to be shared to other vulnerable groups in the insecurity prone north east state, to help cushion the hardships being faced.

Materials presented include: wood, facing boards, batting, as well as tying iron, ceilings, roofing sheets, nails, as well as several food items.

Presenting the materials to the Yobe state Government, the first lady represented by the Borno state Commissioner of Women Affairs Mrs Yabawa Kolo, said the Mrs Buhari, is always “saddened by the touching situation of vulnerable groups in the society, hence the need for the assistance”.

“The First Lady wants to use her good office to reach out to these IDPs and the vulnerable who must be the poorest among the poor and the vulnerable among the most vulnerable, with the hope that it will help them at this most trying period of their lives”.

She explained that the returning IDPs could use the building materials to erect destroyed structures, while the food items would help to fight hunger which according to her, is evident among them.

The Yobe State Deputy Governor, Abubakar Aliyu, on the other hand, expressed appreciation while receiving the materials.

Describing the act as a “kind gesture”, he said it was very timely: as it would help the returning IDPs in the rebuilding of their ancestral homes which were destroyed by the insurgents.

“I want to place it on records that this is not the first time we are receiving relief materials from the First Lady.

“I wish to state categorically that we will transport these materials to the beneficiaries where ever they may be.”

Yobe state according to the Deputy Governor, has never been found wanting in the distribution of relief materials sent to the state.

Mr Aliyu, who is also the Chairman of the Resettlement of IDPs in the state, therefore assured the first lady that the materials received would serve the purpose for which it was intended.

The materials are currently under the custody of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in preparation for distribution.

Photo: Aliko Dangote visited Borno

Africa Richest, Aliko Dangote visited Borno state, welcomed by Borno governor

He later made his visit to IDP campus, Promised to feed all IDp (s) during the month of Ramadan

Note: Ramadan fasting starts on 6th of May

800 Boko Haram Insurgent surrender to Military

Not less than 800 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect have surrendered to the military in the last three weeks, Said by the Defense Headquarters authorities.

The Acting Director, Defense Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, also confirmed this saying, that 800 of the insurgents surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian Army in the last three weeks.

The Defence Headquarters have also established a rehabilitation camp for the repentant Boko Haram insurgents.


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Return 2.6m IDPs to liberated communities, Shehu of Borno urges FG

Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, yesterday, urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to return Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps to military liberated communities in the state.

Shehu said this when the Air Marshall, the person of Sadiq Baba Abubakar paid a courtesyvisit to his palace in Maiduguri, he said peace hadreturned to 22 insurgency affected local
government areas in the state.

Abubakar also said as peace had returnedto the insurgency affected council areas of BornoState, the over two million IDPs in various camps
of Maiduguri and Biu, are “eager to go back” totheir respective liberated towns and villages.

Responding, Air Marshal Abubakar assured themonarch that the military would not fail the peopleof Borno State on the restoration of peace.

He said this would enable all the displaced personsin various resettlement camps return to their
respective communities, within the shortestpossible period of time.

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IDP's