Adamawa Insurgent Victims Raise Alarm Over Discrimination In Materials Distribution

Posted by African Examiner Agabus Pwanagba, Latest Headlines, News From The State Monday, August 10th, 2015

By Agabus Pwanagba – Residents of the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, whose communities were recently recaptured from Boko Haram, have raised alarm over alleged discrimination in distribution of relief materials.

Some of the residents who just returned from self exile who spoke to newsmen in Yola, the State capital, complained that a leading tribe in the area was marginalizing the other tribes using ethno-religious sentiments to distribute relief items and denying many others.

A returnee, who identified himself as Ishaku Musa, said “Whenever there is a relief material to be distributed, members of a particular tribe which I don’t want to mention would dominate the distribution points making sure that other tribes do not benefit.

“If there is a list to be taken, they make sure that only their tribe men or kith and kins were listed for support.

“My people are experiencing this particularly in Garta village of the area,” he alleged.

Mr. Musa called on authorities concerned to investigate the matter which he said had been raised tension in the area.

Also lamenting is a man who simply identified himself as Baba. He called for government intervention to check the discrimination, adding that Michika Local Government has long history of ethno-religious tension that was aggravated by the Boko Haram crisis.

Baba said the development needed to be checked before it snowballs into a major clash.

“This is the time for relevant authorities and leaders from the area to intervene in addressing the problem before it turns into an ethno- religious crisis being experienced in parts of Plateau and Kaduna states”. Baba said.