The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on good spirited Nigerians, to complement the efforts of the government by assisting the Internally Displaced Persons, by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

”With over 2 million people displaced, mostly in the North-east, the scale of the crisis is enormous and far beyond what the government alone can handle,” he Minister.

According to a statement from the Special Assistant to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi, the call by the Minister followed his visit to one of the camps for the IDPs in Bama, one of the most affected towns in Borno State, at the weekend.

”This is why I am appealing to Nigerians to assist in whatever form. We are aware that some individuals and groups have already taken it upon themselves to provide succour to the IDPs by digging boreholes, providing clothing, bedding, medicines, foodstuffs and other things needed to alleviate their suffering.

”But what I saw at the IDP camp in Bama brought to the fore the enormity of the problems faced by our less fortunate compatriots, especially in the area of shelter and medical facilities, hence this appeal to Nigerians, individually and collectively, as well as to local and international NGOs

”Many of the IDPs, especially the young children, are in dire need of medical attention, shelter and clothing. Most are at the mercy of the elements. We must be our brother’s keeper by assisting these unfortunate victims of a senseless war,” he added.

Alhaji Mohammed said the situation at the camps was unimaginable for the IDPs, particularly for the children and  women, – the usual victims of a war they know little or nothing about.

He said the appeal for assistance to the IDPs is aimed at complementing the efforts of the Borno State Government, the Federal Government and the military, which have gone a long way in making life less miserable for the IDPs.