Insurgency has displaced 5million Nigerians – Lawmaker

The Custodian June 23, 2014 

The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. John Owan-Enoh, says insurgency in Nigeria has displaced about five million Nigerians.
He disclosed this while delivering the 2014 Annual World Refugee Day lecture organized by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan at the weekend.

The lawmaker noted that Nigerians now live in a state of nature where life is short and solitary due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to him, apart from the sect’s attacks, violent and ethnic conflicts have increased the number of internally displaced Nigerians.
He called on the National Assembly and government at all levels to reach out to families torn apart by the conflict, irrespective of religious/political affiliation, race or tribe, adding that every life in each family counts.
Owah-Enoh called on the nation’s legislature “to be at the forefront of bringing solution to the problem of insurgency in the country by providing solutions and not contribute to the problems.”
He charged his colleagues to dissociate from fanning embers of discord, and identify potential sources of conflict and work with the people as well as traditional institutions to nip them in the bud before the conflict escalates.
The legislator observed that the new wave of terrorism was targeted at maximum destruction of Nigeria by insurgents, and expressed worries over the recent attacks and casualties recorded in churches, bus stops, football viewing centres, homes, schools and market places.

“We have a vicarious responsibility therefore to protect children and their rights for a future in dignity,” he said.
“We need to commit ourselves to providing a caring and secure environment for the people of this country particularly women, children and their families torn apart by conflicts. In conflict situation, families are disintegrated, the family cohesion is destroyed.
“The girl-child becomes victims of conflicts. They are either raped, abused and because they are displaced, teenage pregnancy becomes rampant, their ambitions, their future and their potentials are destroyed.”