National Commission Refugee Condemns Attack on NOUN Facility, Reaffirms Commitment to Mandate

The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, has condemned the recent attack on the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Centre in Nsu Ehime, Imo State.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Ahmed expressed deep concern over the violent incident, which resulted in the destruction of the university facility and several homes in the area.

Ahmed reiterated the commission's commitment to its mandate of supporting returnee migrants, refugees, and displaced persons. "The National Commission remains committed to its mandate of supporting returnee migrants, refugees, displaced persons and will continue working towards establishing centres that offer hope and empowerment to affected individuals," he stated. He stressed that the commission remains steadfast in its efforts to empower vulnerable individuals and will continue to establish centers that provide much-needed rehabilitation.

Zahra Ahmed Rufai, Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit of the commission, also issued a press statement detailing Ahmed’s recent visit to the NOUN Centre in Nsu Ehime Mbano. The purpose of the visit was to assess the potential of the facility as a skills acquisition center for training Persons of Concern (POCs) and vulnerable youth from the five South-eastern states.

The facility was envisioned to provide vocational training and rehabilitation to displaced persons, returnee migrants, and victims of floods and communal clashes. However, the visit was marred by misinformation, which reportedly spread among the community, leading to misunderstandings about the purpose of the center. This misinformation ignited tension and ultimately resulted in the attack on the NOUN facility.

Condemning the misinformation that fueled the violence, Ahmed said, "Unfortunately, misinformation spread by certain unscrupulous individuals regarding the purpose of the visit and the facility’s intended use sparked tension in the community." He also highlighted the role of the media in aggravating the situation. "The media played a significant role in misrepresenting the purpose of my visit after a press briefing in Imo," Ahmed remarked.

He emphasized that such acts of misinformation threaten the commission’s ability to support vulnerable communities. "Such misinformation-driven violence jeopardizes efforts to provide essential support to vulnerable communities," he warned. The commissioner urged both the media and the public to rely on accurate, verified information to prevent future occurrences of similar incidents.

Despite the setback, Ahmed reaffirmed the commission’s resolve, stating that NCFRMI will continue its work to empower displaced persons and vulnerable individuals across the country. He called for calm and appealed to the community to support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those in need, stressing that the commission would not be deterred by this unfortunate incident.