Shettima initiates a resettlement program for conflict-affected individuals in Tudun Biri

To address the humanitarian catastrophe brought on by internal displacement throughout Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has put the groundwork for the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) to officially commence in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, stated during the project’s pilot phase groundbreaking ceremony that “conflict and displacement, to us, are not merely regional issues; they are national concerns that demand a unified response.”

As he described ongoing efforts to support Tudun Biri, Senator Shettima stated that the project aimed to bring long-term rehabilitation and reintegration of affected communities. These included building a six-kilometer road as well as a skill acquisition center and clinic to meet the people’s medical needs.

“We must create an environment where every individual can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. To those who have been displaced by conflict, I say this: We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you”, Senator Shettima said.

In a statement, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, said that Senator Shettima had established a steering committee in February to oversee the initiative’s implementation. The committee was presided over by Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and included governors’ representatives from the states that would benefit.

Seven states—Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna State—that have been disproportionately impacted by conflicts between farmers and herders will be the project’s initial emphasis.

“A clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to wiping off the tears of Tudun Biri people and the poor, vulnerable and underserved in our country,” according to Senator Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State, was the reason behind selecting Tudun Biri for the project.

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Senator Sani further stated that, Kaduna State government had disbursed over N275 million from donations by individuals, public and private institutions to support the victims of the incidents.

He mentioned that the state government was building a 6-kilometer asphalt road to Tudun Biri, emphasizing that the road’s completion will connect Tudun Biri to neighboring villages, improve the village’s agricultural output, and facilitate the flow of people and commodities.

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, a military drone attack targeting terrorists and outlaws in Tudun Biri village Afaka ward, Rigasa District of Igabi Local Government of Kaduna State, resulted in the mistaken death of Muslims celebrating Maulud and the injuries of numerous others.