By Atinuke Alao
The Kwara State Chapter of the Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yeso-Yeso Development Association (MAFYDA) has raised an alarm over the safety and conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of the state.
It said the IDPs, who are mostly of Fulani extraction left their settlements in local communities in Kwara South following banditry attacks, which resulted in their herd of cattle being rustled while others abandoned their farmlands for safety concern.
In a joint statement issued in Ilorin on Friday, the state Chairman of MAFYDA, Ali Mohammed Jonwuro, and the state Secretary, Muhammad Abdullahi Lamido, said the victims who were initially camped at a basic school, Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area were relocated to Yikpata a few weeks ago.
The statement expressed worry that many of them, who are farmers and cattle rearers, have not been well fed while their means of livelihood had been taken away from them arising from the banditry attacks.
The group lamented that most of the IDPs now look pale and emaciated due to their inability to access quality feeding.
The Miyetti Allah alleged that its recent visit to the Yikpata IDPs camp showed that the victims, who ran out of their settlements due to banditry attacks, need urgent medical attention.
The group noted that the victims are now battling Kwashiorkor as a result of their inability to access food, urging the federal and state governments to come to their aid and make adequate provision to cater for their welfare.
The Miyetti Allah group praised members of the military team deployed to provide security for the camp for exhibiting professionalism while carrying out their duties.
It appealed to the federal and state governments to either release those in the IDPs camp or relocate them to a habitable facility to prevent outbreak of diseases.
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