Coronavirus: IDPs’ welfare worries Plateau LG Official, Mandyau

The Management Committee Chairman of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, Mr Ezekiel Mandyau, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned succour for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the face of the nationwide lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease.

President Buhari had in his nationwide broadcast last Sunday announced planned palliatives for all IDPs across the country to ease the challenges posed by the COVID-19.

Mandyau in an interview with with newsmen in Barkin-Ladi on Tuesday said, the president’s pronouncement was a “great and cheering news” given the population and condition of IDPs in the LGA.

In his words, “The series of dastardly attacks on several villages and Communities in our LGA, has Displaced over 3,000 innocent people.

“Officials of NEMA and SEMA had visited all the camps where the IDPs were, and promised to return with relief, especially materials to rebuild their destroyed houses, but we have not seen them yet.

“As a Council, we went round the IDP camps and pleaded with them to return to their homes.

“To our surprise and gladness, shortly before Christmas, they all left the camps and went back to their respective communities.”

Mandyau stated that the fear of the Council was how the IDPs could cope with the hardship caused by COVID-19.

The Presidential palliatives to the IDPs, Mandyau said would provide “deep relief” to the IDPs.

The Council, said the LG boss has taken “drastic measures” to prevent the spread of the disease to the LGA.

However, all necessary partnership, he said was needed to guarantee public safety.