A former Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, has donated food items to 8,621 households in Yobe.
Danujuma made the donation, under the aegis of Victim Support Fund (VSF), on Friday at the inauguration of the distribution exercise in Kukareta community in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe.
The former defence minister, represented by Hajiya Nana Tanko, recalled that following insurgents’ attacks in Geidam LGA and some other parts of Yobe in 2021, the state government had requested support from VSF.
“We are exceptionally delighted to have received from the Yobe state government, a letter that had requested the assistance of VSF.
“Especially in the year 2021 when Yobe state government wrote, after the attack in Geidam and other parts of the state,” Danjuma said.
Danjuma said the fund made a collaborative assessment and listing of the beneficiaries with State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“Following that, we have discovered up to 8,621 affected households in Geidam, Tarmuwa, Damaturu, Gashua and Yunusari LGAs.
“We have brought food items that will be shared to these families.
“Some of the families are internally displaced persons that have moved since last year and had not been able to go back.
“Therefore, we are here today to give each of them a package which is made up of 50kg bag that contains 15kg of maize grits, 15kg of millet grits.
“Other items are vegetable oil, two packets of Maggi, 10kg of beans, 15 sachets of tomato paste, 15 sachet each of pepper and onion,” he said.
Danjuma said the foods were expected to last the beneficiaries at least one month or more.
“The foods are to feed over 60,000 people with the assumption that each of these 8,621 households there will be an average of 7 people,” he added.
While he commended the resilience and effort of the beneficiaries for taking care of their families, Danjuma encouraged them to take advantage of the assistance and send their children back to school.
In his remarks, Yobe Gov. Mai Mala Buni, described the gesture as timely.
Buni, represented by Dr Abubakar Iliya, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, also said the gesture would complement the efforts of the state government.
One of the beneficiaries, Malam Ibrahim Modu, expressed appreciation on behalf of other beneficiaries, saying the support would go a long way to alleviate the suffering.
