The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of emergency relief materials to victims of recent banditry attacks in Kebbi State, offering support to families displaced by a wave of violence that has unsettled parts of the state.
The Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, flagged off the exercise in Birnin Kebbi, targeting affected residents in Shanga, Yauri and Bunza Local Government Areas. She said the intervention followed a detailed assessment of the affected communities to identify their most pressing needs.
Over the past weeks, suspected bandits reportedly launched coordinated attacks on several villages across the three local government areas. Residents were forced to flee as homes were burnt, food stores destroyed and livelihoods disrupted. Local authorities confirmed casualties and displacement, with many families seeking refuge in neighbouring communities and temporary shelters.
The attacks form part of a broader security challenge confronting parts of northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups have carried out raids on rural settlements, targeting civilians and farmlands. In Kebbi, the violence has compounded existing socio-economic pressures, particularly for farming communities that depend on seasonal harvests for survival.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Umar conveyed the Federal Government’s sympathy to the affected families and the Kebbi State Government. She noted that the relief materials—including food items, bedding and other essential supplies—were provided to cushion the immediate hardship faced by victims.
According to her, the response aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises prompt humanitarian assistance and citizen welfare. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations impacted by insecurity and other disasters.
Representing the Emir of Gwandu, the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, commended the Federal Government and NEMA for what he described as a timely and compassionate intervention. He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items while praying for lasting peace in the affected communities.
Also speaking, the Wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir, said the support would help restore hope to displaced families and ease the burden on host communities.
The distribution exercise is part of ongoing efforts by NEMA to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of insecurity and strengthen support systems for crisis-affected populations across the country.
