The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed relief materials to hundreds of households affected by the recent communal crisis in Karim-Lamido local government area of Taraba State.
The commission urged residents of Taraba, in particular Karim-Lamido to embrace reconciliation and peaceful coexistence for the progress of the state.
The intervention, which was carried out at the NEDC office in Jalingo, comprised 990 bags of rice, 990 mats and 990 blankets for the families affected by the violence.
During the presentation of the items, the Taraba State coordinator of NEDC, Mallam Adamu Lawan, said the intervention was designed to alleviate the hardship faced by victims whose lives and livelihoods were disrupted by the crisis.
Lawan said NEDC’s intervention went beyond the provision of relief materials and was aimed at encouraging healing, reconciliation and the restoration of peace among communities in Karim-Lamido.
He urged community leaders, youths and other stakeholders to work together to prevent a recurrence of the crisis, noting that sustainable development can not take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.
The NEDC coordinator also appealed to the chairman of Karim-Lamido LGA, Hon. Virginia Baba Bambur, to ensure that the relief items reached genuine victims.
He further urged her to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other community stakeholders in strengthening peace-building initiatives in the affected communities.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Taraba State Government, the commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Saviour Noku, described the intervention as timely and commended the NEDC for responding to the needs of communities affected by the crisis.
Hon. Noku reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting lives, as the efforts would be sustained to promote peace, security and stability across the state.
Also speaking, the Karim-Lamido council chairman, Hon. Virginia Baba Bambur, expressed appreciation to the NEDC for its intervention, describing the relief materials as a significant support to affected families.
Hon. Bambur assured that the items would be distributed transparently to the intended beneficiaries, and pledged to work with traditional institutions, religious leaders and community stakeholders to consolidate peace in the local government.
Representatives of the two major ethnic groups in Karim-Lamido also welcomed the intervention and appealed to residents to resist actions capable of reigniting the crisis.
They said the communities had coexisted peacefully for decades, intermarried and shared cultural and religious values as evidence of their longstanding relationship.
According to them, the crisis was largely the result of the actions of a few individuals and should not be allowed to define the future of the local government.
The event was attended by the members representing Karim-Lamido I and II State Constituencies, Hon. Abner Shittu and Hon. Anas Shua’ibu, respectively, as well as traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials and other stakeholders.
The intervention, stakeholders said, would provide immediate relief to affected families while reinforcing ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and lasting peace in Karim-Lamido.
