Kano blasts: How CBN’s N100m, other donations were shared among victims

Even though the families received the cheques with gratitude, it was apparent that they did so with regrets that the monies were given as compensation to the loss of their dear ones. “We understand and appreciate that the money was donated by some people and organizations to assist us run the affairs of our families […]

Even though the families received the cheques with gratitude, it was apparent that they did so with regrets that the monies were given as compensation to the loss of their dear ones. “We understand and appreciate that the money was donated by some people and organizations to assist us run the affairs of our families but we at the same time regret that it came as a result of a pain that can never be healed,” said one of the family members of a police officer who lost his life to the explosion, Hadiza Umar.

 

It would be recalled that 185 persons according to official figures, lost their lives while over 200 sustained injuries of varying degrees during the multi blasts and exchange of gunshots between the Boko Haram religious sect members and security operatives at the various locations the attacks took place.

Three police stations; Yar Akwa, Zone A headquarters, Farm Centre and the SSS office in Giginyu where targets during the attacks.

The sum of N240 million was realized as donations out of which the families of five senior police officers ranking from ASP took home the sum of N1.5 million each while 65 others, including civilians caught in the misfortune received N1 million each. Other families are yet to receive any amount, as screening is still ongoing according to the Chairman, Kano Stakeholders Consultative Assembly, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta.

Dambatta, who spoke to Sunday Trust on phone, said the payment will be a continuous process depending on the amount realized in future, adding that for those who sustained injuries during the blasts compensated by the state government by taking care of their medications.

“What the committee decided was to give the families of senior police officers identified to have fallen victims of the blasts the sum of N1.5 million while all others, including civilians received the sum of N1 million each out of the N240 million realized as donations. Currently, only seventy people have received theirs. The rest will be given after the most appropriate persons to receive the cash on behalf of the families are certified,” said Dambatta.

The cheques were handed to the representatives of the 70 families during a serene ceremony at the Kano State Government House by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi on behalf of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Out of the sum realized, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave the highest donation of N100 million, Kano-based industrialist, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, gave N50 million and N20 million was donated by Alhaji Sani Kwangila Yakassai as well as Katsina and Jigawa state governments each.

Others who contributed include Kaduna and Bauchi state governments, the sum of N10 million each while Kogi State government and ASD Motors gave N5 million each.

Speaking during the distribution of the donations to the beneficiaries, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso reminded the affected families that there is definitely no amount of compensation to equal the loss while he urged them to ensure judicious use of the money received and pray harder for their lost ones.

Kwankwaso said they should accept the donation as “a modest effort to enable the beneficiaries start up endeavors to cater for themselves since their bread winners were no more”. He explained that the monies were realized from public-spirited individuals and organizations to help alleviate the plight of those who lost their loved ones as a result of the unfortunate incident.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, sons of late Mr. Gideon Itodo and Sufyan Muhammad thanked the state government and all those who supported them in both cash and kind, stressing that it is only God that will reward them.

Meanwhile, the Dambatta led consultative committee set up by the state government in the aftermath of the January multiple explosions in the city has submitted its report, highlightening the uncontrolled influx of foreigners into the state as a major threat to security.

The committee also noted the springing-up of unplanned settlements in the city without any proactive system of monitoring the settlers and their activities.

Other points of the report include huge rural-urban migration, the almajiri syndrome, teeming unemployed youths grinding poverty and high birth rate, all of which, it said, had combined to exacerbate the security situation in state.

The committee summed that with the virtual collapse of governance structure at the community level, making it impossible to keep track of activities in local communities; abuse of town planning regulations, illegal motor parks, petty trading premises and armies of motorcyclists, among others, “Kano has unfortunately been reduced to what can be described as an urban jungle”.

To address these problems, the committee recommended the resuscitation of the communal governance system, manifested in the ward heads, district heads and community leaders, so as to assist achieve peace and security as well as identify foreigners in the land, besides certifying their means of livelihood.

The committee also noted the lapses in the security apparatus in the nation, which it said is largely due to inadequate training, obsolete working materials and low morale. It added that the state should advise the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to correct these anomalies.

“The handling of crisis situations by the security agencies should be looked into so that they try to use professional methods in quelling disturbances or in handling troubles of the people in order not to aggravate the situations and make them enemies of the society”, said the report,

It further added that the federal and state governments must do more in terms of addressing socio-economic problems, especially the issue of youth unemployment, injustice and unguarded statements by the media, among other things.

On the issue of non-indigenes living in the state, the committee noted that every citizen has an obligation to live with them in peace and harmony as brothers, just as it is expected that people across the Niger should treat other Nigerians in their midst as brothers.

Receiving the report, Engr. Kwankwaso assured that the report would be thoroughly and quickly studied with a view to implement its recommendations assuring that the committee will not be disbanded because of the calibre of its members, saying their wealth of experience is required now that the state is gearing up for socio – economic transformation.