Those who stole IDPs’ food must be prosecuted, says Saraki

Bukola Saraki, senate president, has called for the prosecution of those who “stole” food meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the north-east.

He lamented that although the crisis in IDPs camps more serious than that of South Sudan, it still has not been able to attract international help.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Yusuph Olaniyonu, the senate president’s spokesman, Saraki said this while reacting to a protest on Thursday by hundreds of IDPs over the lack of food and other necessities in the camps.

“Anyone that is found to be diverting the food aid deliveries should be investigated and brought to book if investigations prove their participation in these vicious schemes,” he said.

“Profiting from a complex humanitarian crisis is unacceptable. The people of the North East have suffered enough indignities in the past four years from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists.

“Stealing food meant for starving children is beyond the pale and only adds insult to injury.”

He called for increased interest in the plight of the displaced people, saying: “The situation in the northeast has been under-reported and under-resourced for far too many years.

“In terms of scale and complexity, the situation in the north-east is more dire than South Sudan. Yet, apparently the crisis appears not to be sexy or star-studded enough to attract greater international attention and support.”

He stressed that government officials and contractors should be held to account for the missing truck loads of provisions intended for the IDPs.

The senate president said that anyone found diverting food aides meant for IDPs in the northeast should be investigated and brought to book if guilty.

“Profiting from a complex humanitarian crisis is unacceptable. The people of the north east have suffered enough indignities in the past four years from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists,” he said.

“Stealing food meant for starving children is beyond the pale and only adds insult to injury.”