Victims Support Fund (VSF) has supported families of 61 district and village heads assassinated by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno with livelihood and empowerment
materials.
The Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Nana Tanko, said during an event to disburse the materials in Maiduguri on Thursday that the gesture was to provide succour to the families of the deceased.
Tanko said the 61 families were from 14 local government areas under Borno Emirate Council.
She added that “a need assessment was conducted to ascertain the precise situation, the coping strategies and also to underscore the vulnerability of families in the absence of their bread winners.
“Most of the families solely depended on the deceased district heads for livelihood and now displaced out of their communities.
“The Chairman of VSF, Retired Gen. TY Danjuma, approved the support for the restoration of livelihood for family members of the deceased district heads and to cover the education of their children.”
Tanko explained that while adult members of the families received tools toward setting up income generation activities, 600 children of school-age would be enrolled into schools and be given school materials.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Garbai Elkanemi, lauded VSF for the support.
He urged the families to use the opportunity to strengthen themselves.
Gov. Babagana Zulum, who also announced the donation of N200,000 each to the 61 families, lauded VSF for the gesture.
He said the state government would continue to collaborate with VSF in the ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement process in the state.
