As part of efforts to bring succour to the displaced indigenes of Okuama community who are now camped at the Ewu-Okuama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Ewu town in Delta State, Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) worldwide has donated relief materials including food items to the management of the centre.
Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) also presented a cheque of two million naira to Okuama community of Ewu Kingdom to assist them in the rebuilding of the military destroyed community in the state.
Recall that troops of the Nigerian military had invaded and destroyed Okuam community following the March 14th gruesome killing of 17 military personnel by unknown gunmen around riverine community rendering residents and indigenes of area to be homeless.
Following the development, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori established an IDP Camp to temporarily house displaced persons until the state government rebuilds the community and urged charitable organisations to assist the people.
The National President of NBM, Olorogun Ese Kakor, while making the donations on Friday at the IDP Camp in Ewu, noted that the organisation was greatly touched by the crisis and the level of destruction of the agrarian community.
Kakor, who lead the delegation of the pan African group, noted that the donation was part of effort to assist the Delta State Government in her bid to bring succour to the people of Okuama.
While commending Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the level of infrastructure provided at Ewu-Okuama IDP camp, the NBM national leader called for local and international organisations to come to the aid of the people, noting that government alone cannot manage the humanitarian crisis.
Olorogun Kakor, who was received by the Chairman of Ewu-Okuama IDP Management Committee, Mr Abraham Ogbodo, said NBM as humanitarian body will continue to offer support and assistance to the less privileged and make the society a happy place.
“As you know may know, the primary aim of NBM of Africa is to carry out humanitarian services wherever there is a need, so, we have come today to offer these items and money to alleviate the suffering of our Okuama people.
“In the 2021 flood that ravaged many states across the country, NBM of Africa donated palliatives to 13 states, this we do anywhere in the world that you find out members and that is what we have come here to do, to put smile on the faces of our people.
“From what we saw in the camp today, we have over 200 displaced women and children that urgently need assistance, so, we brought 500 tubers of yam, 400 (3kg) bags of rice, 200 (3kg) bags beans and 3 big bags of onions, I think this will go a long way in providing succour the Okuama people.
“I am also using this opportunity to appeal to governmental and none governmental organizations to also provide palliatives to this IDP Camp at Ewu-Urhobo and to Okuama people to help them rebuild and start live again.
“We are calling of the United Nation Development Program, UNDP and other international agency to also focus on Okuama and provide succour, they should not just focus their attention and assistance to outside Africa.
“The Okuama people are primarily subsistence farmers, all their homes and means of livelyhood have been completely destroyed. So, they need assistance to start afrish and go back to their ascestrial home.
“As an organization we are giving Okuama community the sum of #2m check as our support to rebuilding of their community, we know this might be small, but we are setting the pace for others to follow”, Olorogun Kakor added.
In a similar vein, a group, Urhobo Arise (UA) also donated a live cow to the Ewu-Okuama IDP management for the feeding of the homeless Okuama indigenes.
Mr. Fidelis Odia, who presented the cow gift on behalf of Urhobo Arise, said that the group comprised intellectuals of Urhobo stock who are concerned about the plight of the people.
According to him, “As Urhobo people, we identify with the pains and suffering of the Okuama people and we also applaud the efforts of the Delta State Government so far with what we saw here at the Camp.
“We also support and identify with the initiative of the Delta State Government, that is why we in Urhobo Arise came today to donate this cow to support the ongoing efforts in first instance.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ewu-Okuama Internally Displaced Persons Management Committee, Mr Abraham Ogbodo thanked the Neo Black Movement of Africa and the Urhobo Arise for their gestures, noting that their interventions will go a long way in boosting what the Camp is providing.
He also called on well meaning individuals, international and cooperate organisations to rally round and support the people of Okuama by emulating the good gestures of NBM of Africa and Urhobo Arise.
He noted that the level of devastations and destruction visited on Okuama is not what the Delta State Government can handle alone, but need international.
[…] Source: Niger Delta Today […]