FG begins terrorist attack victims’ verification in Plateau 

The Federal Government has launched a survey exercise to verify victims of terrorist attacks in Plateau State.

The victims mostly men and women were seen on Thursday morning trooping to the New Era hotel in Jos, the venue of the verification exercise where the officials from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development were on ground to attend to them.

In an interview with The PUNCH in Jos Thursday, the minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said the exercise was aimed at determining the appropriate intervention response for the victims.

The Minister said “You know, it has been years since Plateau state has been experiencing insecurity in the form of attacks and even bomb blasts. Some of them did not happen at the same time.

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“So, the essence of this programme is to meet with the victims, interact with them and get data from them as well. Plateau is not the only state we are doing this and the aim is to determine the appropriate intervention for them by the government.”

Asked how long the verification exercise will last and the nature of intervention that the victims should expect from the Federal Government, the Minister who was represented by Mrs Dinatu Wuyah, an Assistant Director, Special Duties in the ministry added, “If you look at our survey form administered to the victims, it is structured in a way that we need to know the level of contact of individual victims, their professional fields and skills and so on. Some of them need an intervention that will enable them to cope with the situation they found themselves in, some others may need economic empowerment and so on.

“When we are done with the verification exercise, it will help us to properly classify them to enable them to benefit from the appropriate intervention. I think between now and March next year, we should be able to conclude the exercise.”

One of the leaders of a  Non-Governmental Organisation, Northern Youths for Leadership and Governance, Abdullahi Yusuf, who participated in the exercise commended the Federal Government for initiating the intervention plan.

He urged the victims in the state to take the verification exercise seriously to enable them to benefit from the programme in due course.