Ndume joins others to raise N40m during visit to Gwoza community
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has joined others to raise N40 million to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at their ancestral homes in Borno State.
Ndume – currently in the eye of the storm stirred by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s incompetence and misallocation of public funds – applauded the Borno government for its Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) project, which has resettled thousands IDPs at their ancestral homes in a state buffeted terrorists since 2009.
More than a decade of terrorism forced the people of Gwoza, including those in the Mandara Mountains, to leave their homes.
Islamist jihadists declared Gwoza town a Boko Haram caliphate until it was recaptured and liberated by troops some years ago.
Ndume explained in a statement issued in Abuja that since peace is gradually returning to the area, Governor Babagana Zulum has resettled IDPs and initiated monthly distribution of food and non-food palliatives, which are “highly commendable.”
He listed resettled communities to include Gwoza, Pulka, Limankara, Warabe, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Izge, Bitta, Hambagtha, Modube, Yamtake,
He enthused the people of Ashgashiya, Wala, and other communities would soon return to their ancestral homes.
Ndume was in Gwoza last weekend to express house-to-house condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the multiple suicide bombings on June 29 and said he was very impressed with residents who showed resilience and were working on their farmlands.
He donated N10 million and his wife Maryam N3 million into an account created by Gwoza Concerned Citizens (GCCs) to resettle Gwoza people and complement the efforts of Zulum.
He thanked other donors to the account, including JAIZ Bank (N10 million); Ahmed Jaha, House of Representatives member representing Chibok/Gwoza/Damboa Federal Constituency (N5 million); Asabe Bashir (N3 million), Zakariya (1 million); Mohammed Tumala (N1 million); and the Emir of Gwoza, Mohammed Timta.
“I want to thank you for finding time to come to my house for solidarity over what has happened to me and my people in Gwoza,” Ndume said.
“The incident of multiple suicide attacks which happened in Gwoza town on 29th June 2024 left over 30 people dead, with dozens injured.
“Although I was amongst the entourage of the then-acting Governor … Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur immediately after the incident, I decided to personally pay another sympathy visit from house to house and condole with the bereaved.
“I also used the opportunity to distribute palliatives donated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to about 2,000 [people], mostly women and youths who are the vulnerable groups in Gwoza.
“I want to specifically appreciate the Borno State government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum who injected huge resources that led to the resettlement of thousands of IDPs back to 10 liberated communities of Gwoza.
“These include not only Gwoza but Pulka, Limankara, Warabe, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Izge and Bitta. Others are Hambagtha, Modube and Yamtake villages.
“I am happy to inform you that very soon, the people of Ashgashiya, Wala and other communities will return to their ancestral homes by Allah’s grace.
“Despite what befell us, I was very much impressed with my people who displayed resilience, they are busy working on their farmlands during my stay with them, and I also thank our security agencies for giving them cover to cultivate their farmlands in this cropping season.
“I thanked those who have contributed their widow’s might to the GCCs’ account, where we were able to raise over N40 million, as the window of voluntary donations is still open to complement Borno State government in its Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of our displaced communities.”
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