- As Veritas University donates to victims
From John Adams, Minna
Niger State Government has said that a number of non-indigenes were also affected in the Mokwa flood disaster, which occurred more than three weeks ago.
This is just as the Veritas University Abuja on Tuesday joined other Nigerians and corporate bodies to donated to the victims of the disaster as donations continue to pour in.
Niger State Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba stated this when he received officials of the Veritas University Abuja who paid a condolence visit to the state government in Minna, saying that there were more people from outside Niger state that were affected by the disaster.
According to him, “This is why we describe the disaster as a national catastrophe; there are more non-indigenes, Yoruba, Ibos, and Hausas that were affected.”
He, however, did not give the exact statistics of the non-indigenes that were killed in the disaster.
He pointed out that the spread of the disaster across national divides “is why most parts of the country too 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 a condolence visit to 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 200 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.”
He is therefore 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 Reverend Professor Hyacinth Ishoku represented by the Dean Faculty of Education Reverend Dr Peter Bakwaph disclosed that families of some of the institution’s 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, torchlights, and water guards for use by the victims.