N30bn fund ‘to compensate Boko Haram victims’

Federal government will set up a N30 billion support fund for victims mostly of Boko Haram insurgency, a government official has revealed.

The federal government has agreed to contribute N10 billion to the fund states will make up the balance.

This was one of the issues discussed and agreed upon by the national council of state ─ made up of governors  and former heads of state, among others ─ at its meeting on Tuesday.

Other victims of terrorism across the country will also benefit from the fund, although Boko Haram victims are most likely to make up the entire list of beneficiaries.

The remnant of Niger Delta militancy has been targeted only at government installations and civilian deaths are virtually zero.

The compensation would be for those who lost property and loved ones in the attacks that are officially classified as “terrorism”.

“It will be used to rebuild schools, to assist widows, to provide support for orphans,” the source said, refusing to be names because “an official statement will soon be made on it”.

The Victims Support Fund will be launched July ending.

Former army chief, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, is being considered as chairman while former vice-presidential candidate, Mr. Fola Adeola, could be his deputy.

President Goodluck Jonathan is planning to launch other programmes for the north ─ including the Safe School Initiative and the Presidential Initiative in the North East (PINE).