Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has evacuated over 800 Ebonyi indigenes trapped in Lagos state following the demolition of some parts of Ijaje by Lagos state government.
Commissioner for Special Duties and State.Diaspora Barr. Valentine Okike disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalist in Abakaliki.
According to Okike, the rescued Ebonyians were sleeping under the bridge since the demolition occured as most of those stranded were women and children.
He added that the state government is profiling those affected to see how they will be assisted to start a new life stressing that the Governor cannot bring them back to suffer and leave them to suffer.
His words; “Officially, we were informed that our people were stranded in Lagos after the demolition and the governor ordered that we should go and bring them back and that is exactly what I did. I went to Lagos and brought them back.
“We also learned that those stranded were women and children and before their return were sleeping under the bridge since the sad incident occurred in Ilaje Lago state.
“It was an eyesore seeing small children below three or four years living in an open place under the bridge. If you see the clips, you will know that these people are going through a kind of hardship. It was on that basis that the governor said that I would allow my people to suffer.
“It was not only Ebonyians who were part of the demolition, other people from other states were there. But I can tell you that It was only Ebonyi State government that took that proactive measure to bring them back home.
“I am sure that the governor in his usual way must do something for his people. He cannot bring them back to suffer. That is the reason why we are trying to profile them”. Because at the time, people were bringing their goods from different locations not from Ilaje precisely because they saw the opportunity to bring back their property back home.
“Those people whose houses and businesses were destroyed are the people that called the attention of the government and those are the people we are working with. So the data will be provided after proper and thorough scrutiny”.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then