National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has provided relief items to victims of the recent attack in Bokkos Local Government Area  in Plateau State.

Director-General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, who led the delegation on a visit to the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government, Mr Amalau Amalau,  Monday in Jos, expressed deep sympathy to the victims and their families.

Umar, who was represented by NEMA‘s Director, North -Central, Mr Aliyu Waziri, told Amalau that the agency was directed by the president to provide immediate succour to  victims of the recent attacks.

The director-general said the gesture was also in line with the agency’s mandate of timely intervention to save lives in disaster and emergency situations.

She noted that the agency had earlier conducted a rapid response assessment to know the immediate needs of the victims.

According to her, more relief items such as building materials will be distributed to enable the people get back on their feet.

Umar said the items donated consist of  food and non food items.

In his response, the  council boss, who spoke during the distribution of the items to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at St Thomas Apostolic Parish in Bokkos, commended the federal government for its swift response in providing succour to the victims.

Amalau said the assailants came in their numbers on motorcycles, killed and injured so many persons and also burnt houses, looted foodstuffs and livestocks.

The chairman appealed for more security personnel to be deployed to the area and for the various telecommunications service providers to erect masts in the villages, as most of them lack telecommunications network.

The food items donated include bags of rice, garri, maize, cartons of tomato paste, seasoning cubes, pasta, noodles, bags of iodised salt and cartons of vegetable oil, while the non-food items are bundles of mosquito nets and blankets, mattresses, nylon mats, plastic buckets, cups, female wears, and clothing materials.

The agency also visited some of the victims who were on admission at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

Receiving the delegation, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Professor Chris Yilgwan, commended the director-general for responding swiftly to the plight of the hospitalised victims.

Similarly, she visited Governor Caleb Mutfwang to sympathise with the government and people of the state.

She said NEMA was in the state to work in synergy with the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.

In his response, Mutfwang, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, lauded NEMA’s swift response to bring succour to the victims through the relief items.

Osun State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a bill to protect the rights of consumers and business owners operating within the state.

Titled ‘Consumer Protection Agency Bill, 2024’, it was passed during plenary after an ad-hoc committee submitted its report on the proposed legislation.

Speaker Adewale Egbedun said the committee’s findings are vital in refining the bill’s provisions to better serve consumers across the state.

He added that the bill’s passage positions Osun to empower consumers, promote fair trade and establish proper dispute resolution mechanisms.

Egbedun also noted that the bill would  be sent to Governor Ademola Adeleke for assent.

Earlier, its sponsor and Majority Leader, Babajide Adewunmi, said it seeks to promote and defend consumer rights in the state.

He explained that the bill proposes the creation of  Osun State Consumer Protection Agency to safeguard consumers interests.

Adewunmi said the agency would also encourage fair business practices throughout the state.

Meanwhile, the Assembly passed the ‘Osun State Communal Crisis Management and Peace Building Bill 2025’ for first reading.

The House then dissolved into a committee of the whole to deliberate on the Osun State Property Protection Bill 2025. The sitting was adjourned to today.

The Coalition of 774 Civil Society Organisations has praised President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for their collaborative efforts in enhancing security in the North-West region of Nigeria.

In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the coalition’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Usman Goronyo, attributed the decline in banditry and kidnappings to the strategic leadership of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The coalition specifically highlighted Matawalle’s directive-led operations in Sokoto last year, under President Tinubu’s mandate, as a turning point in the fight against insecurity.

It noted that these interventions had resulted in the elimination of numerous bandits, including the notorious kidnapper Alhaji Halilu Sububu.

“We commend Minister Matawalle for his commitment and effective leadership in tackling insecurity,” Goronyo said. “President Tinubu deserves recognition for entrusting him with this crucial responsibility.”

The coalition reported that the security improvements allowed many towns and villages in the region to going about doing normal activities peacefully, with no major incidents of bandit attacks, except for isolated unrest in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

“We are pleased to carry out our usual activities, going to farm everyday in the North-West without significant security breaches,” Goronyo added.

The group attributed these successes to Operation Fansa Yamma, which targeted and dismantled key bandit enclaves across the region. The improved security, they said, has facilitated safer travel and trade, particularly along major routes such as Zaria to sokoto and Abuja to Kano.

“This is a welcome development. The military’s efforts have significantly eased movement and commerce,” Goronyo stated.

Despite these achievements, the coalition expressed concerns over continued attacks in some villages, including Sabon Birni and Isa in Sokoto state, as well as parts of Katsina, Kebbi, kaduna, Niger and Zamfara state.

“We acknowledge the persistent challenges in some areas but remain confident that security forces are doing their utmost to address them,” Goronyo remarked.

“Minister Matawalle’s unwavering support for the troops has been instrumental in boosting morale and sustaining these gains.”

The coalition also acknowledged the role of General Musa in coordinating the armed forces to maintain stability in the North. It urged the Federal Government to provide additional resources to the military and security agencies to consolidate on recent successes.

“We urge the Federal Government to bolster security efforts through increased funding and logistical support,” the statement read.

“The protection of citizens and their property remains paramount, and we implore security agencies to persist in their commendable efforts,” the group stated.