More than two million people displaced by Boko Haram mayhem: Buhari
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (centre) is received by the President of Benin Thomas Boni Yayi (right) in Cotonou on August 1, 2015. Mr Buhari told a Commonwealth Heads of States meeting in Malta on November 29, 2015 that Boko Haram has killed at least 10,000 people and displaced over two million so far. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
No fewer than 10,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced in the six years of the mayhem of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.
President Buhari released the figures at a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for Heads of State and government in Malta.
No fewer than 10,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced in the six years of the mayhem of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed the figures in contrast to the 7,800 deaths and 1.5 million displaced persons being peddled.
He released the figures at a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for Heads of State and Government participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.
The deaths were not only recorded in three of the six north east stares, but also in north west and north central, including the Federal Capital Territory.
FIGHTING TERRORISM
Majority of the internally displaced persons were women and children, a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said.
President Buhari called for the establishment of a Commonwealth Committee to oversee the rendering of greater assistance and support to Nigeria and other member-countries that had been adversely affected by terrorism.
He expressed hope that the committee would have been established before the next meeting of the organisation.
According to the statement, the President also expects the committee to visit Commonwealth member-countries where terrorist organisations have established a foothold with a view to evolving practical strategies for more meaningful assistance to the affected countries.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has lamented the high number of out-of-school children displaced by insurgency in the North-East.
The commission made the observation in Yola over the weekend when its officials embarked on a state-wide monitoring of formal and informal camp settlement for internally displaced persons in the state.
State Acting Coordinator of the commission, Ms Grace Mamza, said the monitoring visit, bemoaned the lack of access to qualitative education faced by children of internally displaced parents.
