….Minna Diocese advocates psychosocial support for victims of banditry in Niger
ASHENEWS reports that the Catholic Diocese of Minna has advocated for the provision of psycho-social support to victims of banditry in the state.
The Coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), the humanitarian arm of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, Dauda Musa Bahago stated this while speaking during the closing ceremony of the ‘Emergency Response for Herders and Farmers Clash in Niger State’ Project at the Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDP) in Gwada.
Bahago said that most of the displaced persons were currently suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from their experiences in conflict zones.
“The Catholic Diocese of Minna is moving around, and appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to see that we provide mental and psycho-social support.
“In as much as they are here and can’t go back to their communities for now, they should live in the best mental state,” he said.
Bahago said that the JDPC Minna has been working tirelessly to meet the needs of displaced persons, especially through the provision of food and free healthcare access to displaced persons.
This online platform reports that the Emergency Response for Herders and Farmers Clash in Niger State Project sponsored by the Catholic Relief Services in partnership with JDPC Minna provided one-off cash transfers to 100 beneficiaries selected from within the Gwada community.
A resident of the IDP Camp Gwada and one of the beneficiaries, Asabe Dauda lauded the organizers for their support.
“We appreciate this kind of support because the money they gave me helped me feed my family. Our major problem is lack of food so I brought maize seedlings for my family with the money.”
On his part, Mohammed Usman, a director at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said that the state government will not relent in its efforts to meet the needs of the displaced persons at the camp.
