A number of Plateau organisations, including ViewPointNigeria, Plateau One Voice and MOPPLAH, yesterday visited one of the internally displaces persons’s camps in Jos Plateau state. 

These IDPs were people sacked by Fulani marauders from the villlages of Sopp, Bangai and Rim on Thursday the 10^th of May 2015. The attacks, which started on Wednesday the 9th, resulted in the death of 7 people while many others were injured. The Fulani marauders who carried out the attacks were said to have completely raided the communities, setting houses ablaze, carting away with roofing material and other properties belonging to the people. 

Makeshift bedroom

Boy with broken leg

Helpless Women and children

In addition, it was confirmed to ViewPointNigeria, that three women were kidnapped a few week ago after an attack on some villages around the Rim area – and these women are yet to be rescued.

The aim of the visit was to meet with the IDPs, understand the demographics, assess the situation and to get an understanding of the immediate and long term needs of the people. 

Our onsite assessment indicated that there were 495 women in the camp with approx. 120 children. They were housed in a primary school close to the STF Headquarters. 

Further assessment showed that the facilities were missing several basic infrastructure e.g., healthcare supplies, food and sanitation etc. 

Additionally, there were no beds or mattresses so most of the people had to lie down on bare ground or mats. One of the classes was used as a bathroom, one as a kitchen while the open bush around was used as toilet. At the time of our visit a lot of the women had gone out in search of food for themselves and the Children. 

Viewpointnigeria found that there were a lot of sickly children in the camp. A 14 year old girl who lost her dad in the attack also damaged her bladder while running away and has been suffering continue urinary incontinence since the event. Another boy in the camp who had suffered a broken leg was still struggling with the swollen/infected foot. Additional, several children who showed symptoms of malaria were found to simply to lying on the bare ground.

In conclusion, Viewpointnigeria’s assessment is that these people need immediate assistance in the following areas:

Portable drinking water

Basic healthcare access

Food

Clothing

Education for the children

We shall soon be mobilising for a collection on behalf of these individuals, if anyone feels compelled to support the initiative, please do reach out to us.

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MOPPLAH, PLATEAU ONE VOICE AND VIEWPOINTNIGERIA VISIT INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AT RIYOM