Government Reunites 142 Edo Displaced Children With Parents

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Benin City – The joy of parents of 142 children from Edo state, who were internally displaced, following Boko Haram attacks in parts of North East Nigeria, on sunday evening knew no bound, as they were officially reunited with their families at a special ceremony put together by the Edo State Government.

‎AFRICAN EXAMINER reports that the IDPs, as they are popularly called, were among the more than 400 victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East zone, currently receiving shelter in a camp being managed by a religious body, the International Christian Centre for Missions.

It is located at Uhogua village in Ovia North East Council Area of Edo state.

The state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who hosted the families, in company of members of his executive council at the government House, had expressed happiness that the state government was able to locate 55 parents ‎of the children.

Oshiomhole, said his administration was moved by the number of children and infant affected by the insurgency.

He however, applauded efforts and determination of the Nigerian Red Cross in identifying parents of the IDPs children.

The governor, also challenged the Nigerian military to intensify its operations in the North-East in order to enable the 112 families, who are willing to relocate, to resettle in their ancestral homes.

Oshiomhole, who also made unannounced cash donations to the affected families, stated that efforts were ongoing by his administration to reunite more children, “because
nothing could substitute parental care.

In his remarks at the event, one of the parent, Mr. Lukas Saidu, who spoke on behalf of other families, had thanked the state governor, for the kind gesture.

He said :“We thank you for wiping the tears from our eyes because many of us have been in tears since we were displaced from our homes,”

Coordinator of the IDP centre, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, in his speech, stressed that the action of the government had been of great relief to the centre.

According to him, the Centre had catered for more than 1,000 persons since 1992.