The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has denied a report claiming the death of 15 worshipers in an outskirt town of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.
Yushau A. Shuaib, the agency’s spokesperson said though some of the reports had claimed that a source from NEMA provided the information, he said investigation by the agency proved the allegations wrong.
He, however, confirmed the death of two people, a security man and a bystander by unknown gunmen around the area on Sunday, saying the bodies had since been deposited in a hospital.
Like other similar attacks, the agency could not classify the religion of the victims because most of the attacks in the North-East axis are not religion-sensitive.
Shuaib added that it is not in the culture of NEMA to release fictitious figures of casualty without verifiable evidence and certification from relevant authorities, including the medical personnel and security agencies.
He maintained that the tradition of collaboration with stakeholders in information management during outbreaks of disaster in any part of the country was to eradicate erroneous impressions and misinformation as well as guard against unnecessary reprisal attacks from such speculations.
Meanwhile, in a similar development NEMA has provided relief materials to the victims of recent communal clash between Fulani and Gwari in Gwagwalada area of Abuja. The fight broke out over encroachment on farmlands. Two truckloads of relief materials that include bedding, food items, toiletries, medication and tents were distributed to the victims who are currently squatting in a temporary camp on the Permanent Campus of the University of Abuja.