Refugee Commission Condemns Attack on NOUN Facility in Imo State, Reaffirms Commitment to Mandate

The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, 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 dismay over the violent actions that led to the burning of the university facility and several homes in the area.

Ahmed reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its mandate of supporting returnee migrants, refugees, and displaced persons, emphasizing that the Commission would continue its efforts to provide hope and empowerment to vulnerable communities.

"The National Commission remains steadfast in its mission to aid displaced persons and will keep working toward establishing centres that offer skills training and rehabilitation," Ahmed stated.

The Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit, Zahra Ahmed Rufai, clarified in a press release that the commissioner had visited the NOUN Centre to assess its potential as a vocational training hub for Persons of Concern (POCs), including displaced individuals and youth from the five South-Eastern states. The centre was intended to offer vital skills acquisition and rehabilitation services to returnee migrants, refugees, and victims of communal clashes or floods.

However, misinformation about the visit’s purpose spread through the community, creating unrest and ultimately culminating in the attack on the facility. Ahmed expressed concern over the role of the media in misrepresenting the visit, emphasizing that such false narratives undermine the Commission’s efforts to support vulnerable populations.

The commissioner urged the public and the media to rely on accurate, verified information, while calling for calm in the aftermath of the incident. He reiterated the importance of addressing the needs of displaced communities and reaffirmed the Commission's determination to fulfill its responsibilities despite setbacks.