Niger Govt: More Non-indigenes Affected by Mokwa Flood Disaster

•Veritas University donates to appeal fund

LaleyeDipo in Minna

Niger State Government has said that more non-indigenes were affected in the Mokwa flood disaster which occurred more than three weeks ago.

This is just as the Veritas University Abuja has donated to the appeal fund launched to take care of victims of the disaster.

Niger State Deputy Governor Comrade YakubuGarba said this when he received officials of the Veritas University Abuja who paid a condolence visit on the state government in Minna on Tuesday.

He also insisted there were more people from outside Niger State that were affected by the disaster.

“This is why we describe the disaster a national catastrophe; there are more non-indigenes – Yorubas, Igbos, Hausas that were affected,” Comrade Garba declared though he said the exact statistics has not been got.

He said the spread of the disaster across national divide “is why most parts of the country are mourning”.

Comrade Garba said it would be almost impossible for the victims to recover from the effect of the disaster “between now and one year” because of the huge losses suffered insisting that “between now and 1 year the displaced people cannot be settled”.

The deputy governor disclosed that Veritas University was the first faith-based organisation to pay condolence visit on the government and donate in support of the victims saying the “Mokwa incident cut across faith and ethnicity”.

Commenting on the Benue State incident in which over 100 people were said to have been killed Comrade Garba described it as “absolute wickedness” adding that “it is not a natural disaster but man to man wickedness” before appealing to faith-based organisations in the country to pray for the repose of those killed and for peace to return to Benue State.

Vice Chancellor, Veritas University, Rev. Professor HycentIshoku, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Reverend Dr Peter Bakwaph, disclosed that families of some of the institutions students were affected by the flood disaster.

Professor Ishoku described the incident as very sad and called on people of goodwill and organisations to rise in support of the victims.

The university donated 150 mattresses, mosquito nets, torch lights and water guard for use by the victims.