The National Emergency Management Agency has come to the aid of internally displaced persons in Itu Local Government Area. The internally displaced persons were victims of Oku Iboku – Ikot Offiong communal clashes.
Items donated included 260 bags of 12.5kg rice, 270 bags of 10kg beans, 268 bags of 10kg garri, 60 gallons of vegetable oil and 40 cartons of tin tomatoes.
The rest were 40 cartons of Maggi, 40 cartons of bath soap, 400 pieces of mosquito treated nets and 400 pieces of 6-inch mattresses.
Presenting the items to the Internally Displaced Persons in Itu local government council secretariat, Mbak Atai on the 8th of September 2021, the zonal coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Godwin Tepico, expressed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the IDPs and called for orderliness in the distribution of the materials to the affected persons.
Mr. Tepico advised communities to shun communal clashes and strive to coexist peacefully with one another.
The Chairman of Itu Local Government, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Etim Onuk, commended NEMA for its intervention to give succour to the IDPs in the area.
He urged all communities in Itu to live peacefully as communal clashes impede development.
The State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo who doubles as the Chairman, Boundary and Conflict Resolution Commission, thanked NEMA for the gesture and sympathized with the IDPs.
Mr Ekpo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, office or the Deputy Governor, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said, however, that the relief items were not sufficient to meet the needs of the IDPs, and therefore, requested NEMA for more relief materials to assist the IDPs.
The Clan head of Oku Iboku, HRH Etebom Abasiubong Okokon Essien, said that although the relief materials would not compensate for the lives lost during the crises, the gesture by NEMA was highly appreciated by his people.
Some of the internally displaced persons also spoke at the event and commended NEMA for coming to their assistance.
They appealed to the Federal and State Government to send in more relief materials to ameliorate their plight.