Some persons believed to be thieves have allegedly diverted relief materials donated to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Ogbe Afor primary School Camp in Asaba Delta State by the Red Cross Society of Nigeria last Monday.
The victims at the Camp, who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in Asaba in tears, called on the state government to as a matter of urgency constitute a probe panel into the willful activities of the thieves who had been allegedly diverting relief materials donated to them since they moved into the camp.
The leader of the victims, Patrick Major, who claimed to be native of Bomadi community in the state, disclosed that the relief materials suddenly grew wings the same day the Red Cross Society donated them to them at the camp.
Major added that the relief materials: six bags of rice and beans including toiletries were allegedly carted away in the night by the thieves who claimed to be government agents
He said; “These persons were dressed in red white with government identity cards. They are not taking care of us well again; the thieves have taken over the camp. We want the state government to intervene and bring the thieves to book before we leave for our homes officially. They feed us once a day; we need the attention of the government.”
But the Camp Commandant at the Ogbe Afor Primary School, Daniel Okpor, described the allegations as untrue, saying that there was no relief materials donated to the Camp by Red Cross Society of Nigeria apart from the items from the state government, adding that it was not also true that the victims were not properly being taken care of by the camp officials
Some officials of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria in the state, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the relief materials were donated to the victims at the Ogbe Afor Primary School camp, adding that it was not their duty to monitor the use or judicious use of the materials and called on the state government to ensure the suspects were brought to book soon.
The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Earnest Ogwezzy, who also is the chairman of the state IDPs camps, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing with a view to arresting the thieves.
He said, “We are investigating the incident and the report presented to us, the Governor, Dr lfeanyi Okowa is very unhappy about the activities and he had ordered the suspects to be brought to book soon, it’s unfortunate that the officials of the state government were accused, but we are looking into it.”
Comments