Thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Southern Kaduna have decried alleged exploitation by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), urging the Federal Government, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other stakeholders to rescue them.

They accused a group known as Hope for Nigeria, of deceiving them and issuing a N20 million dud cheque.

Representatives of the IDPs, yesterday, alleged “false promises, exploitation and called on relevant authorities to intervene on their behalf.

In a statement, the Chairman, Committee for Identification and Verification of Claims by Displaced Victims of Attacks in Southern Kaduna, Mrs. Alice Emmanuel, claimed that they were made “to sell forms to poor displaced farmers under the guise of securing skill, but no training was done and the monies were not refunded.

The statement reads: “We wish to bring to your attention a very disturbing development, which seeks urgent intervention of relevant bodies, because the issue is not only brewing tension in Southern Kaduna communities, it is also endangering our security.

“Sometime in April 2023, a certain organisation called Hope for Nigeria approached some members of this committee, claiming to be a humanitarian organisation that assists indigent persons, especially the less-privileged, from the grassroots and IDPs.”

The statement explained how they were allegedly exploited: “Mrs. Emmanuel was made Zangon Kataf Local Council Coordinator, and charged with recruiting 15 persons for the organisation as foundation staff for Southern Kaduna. She was to earn N100,000 monthly, while others were to earn between N25,000 and N50,000. She was promoted to Southern Kaduna Regional Coordinator and promised a car to be delivered on May 21, 2023. This motivated the team to work for the organisation. Today, the staff strength of Southern Kaduna is above 800 spread in five local councils.”

The organisation reportedly declared a donation of N40 million to the IDPs, which is supposed to be delivered in two tranches of N20 million each. An FCMB cheque of N20 million, which was to mature on May 22, 2023, was issued to Emmanuel for 200 families. This excited the distressed persons.

Unfortunately, that happiness was short-lived, as all attempts to cash the cheque reportedly failed.

The Guardian gathered that four months into the employment of 30 foundational staff, no dime was paid as salary, despite the work done for the organisation.

Also, the skill acquisition, for which the IDPs paid, is reportedly nowhere to be found.

Consequently, Mrs. Emmanuel stated: “We demand a refund of all monies paid to Hope for Nigeria by displaced persons.”

“We also demand all accrued salaries owed to coordinators and staff be paid without delay. We want the foundation to stop further activities in Southern Kaduna until all promises are made good.

“The EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Brekete Family Radio, Nigeria Police, Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) and relevant bodies should investigate Hope for Nigeria’s conduct.”

Attempts by The Guardian to get members of Hope for Nigeria for comments were futile, as none of them could be reached at the time of going to press.

Source: The Guardian