Boko Haram Victims To Get Professional Help In 12 Local Areas In Borno
Victims of Boko Haram attacks now could get professional help in 12 local government areas in Borno State to overcome their trauma and mental challenges.
During a workshop event organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development at the weekend in Maiduguri, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Galadima, revealed that the psycho-treatment services would be provided to vulnerable groups, mostly women, children and physically challenged persons in the state.
According to Hajiya Galadima, her ministry was undertaking the exercise for Boko Haram victims in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), human rights organisations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.
The 12 local government areas selected for the exercise are Bama, Biu, Konduga, Kaga, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Gwoza, Damboa, Chibok, Mafa, Ngala, Hawul and Jare.
These selected areas are the worst affected by the over three years insurgency, according to the organization. "We believe that they have suffered the adverse experiences of emergency situation more than the remaining local government areas of the state," the commissioner stated.
According to a message of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Baba Garbai, women and girls suffered more during Boko Haram attacks as many of them were often forcefully taken as sex slaves and servants by their abductors.
The United Nations Children’s Fund representative in Nigeria, Dr. Alfred Mutiti, said the fund had trained 55 volunteer workers in psycho-social support and protection to be deployed to the 27 communities of the 12 selected local government areas to carry out the psycho-social services to the victims of the insurgency.
"Displaced persons, especially women and children needed the psycho-social support services to rebuild their traumatised lives. The Boko Haram insurgency had led to the destruction of social institutions responsible for the development of children," Alfred Mutiti said.
Only this weekend, Boko Haram attacked Gaidamgari village in Bama local government area of Borno State and killed no fewer than 60 people. Such attacks happen in Borno almost every day over different reasons. Sometimes Boko Haram insurgents take food and necessary supplies and sometimes they come to village to recruit young men. In both cases people die as Boko Haram members use guns to frighten people and get what they came for.
Source: Legit.ng
