Some widows of slain officers have appealed for support saying that authorities have abandoned them without any significant assistance.
The widows made this disclosure on Monday in Pantami Township Stadium Gombe, where government donated N6.6 million for emblem launch and laid wreath in commemoration of slain officers.
Speaking, 55-year-old Ruth Yusuf-Baka, said after every yearly donation nothing gets to widows, lamenting that some of their leaders decide on who to give what.
She said, “My husband was 58 years old when he died in service in 2014. We are yet to receive anything from the money realised last year and we are suffering with our children no form of assistance. As I speak no assistance, my son has applied over 12 twelve times he is yet to be recruited.
“We widows don’t get the usual support even when government gives those in charge don’t allow it get to us. As I speak, I and my four children are living from hand to mouth. I lost my husband since 2014 since then no form of support. I just survive by working on farmlands as labourer. I used to have five children until Boko Haram killed one.”
According to her, she used her late husband’s gratuity to buy a home in Gombe, where her and the children settled adding that distribution should come through appropriate channels in order to trickle down.
“I started attending Armed forces remembrance emblem launch since 2019 in Gombe, I have never received anything. We have our coordinator, they should be able to pass things through our coordinator unlike when they pass through leaders. I used my husband’s 3million gratuity to buy house in Gombe but since then nothing else has come from government.”
Also, Secretary Nigeria Legion Gombe State, Lydia Usman, said “I lost my husband since 2004. I’m 52 years and I’m from Gombe State. I returned to Gombe in 2007. God has been our only sustenance.”
According to Usman, “During recruitment no one cares about our children. We are really suffering feeding is a problem.”
On her feeling every January 15, she added, “I’m usually excited but it makes me think alot. After each launching, they make promises but we don’t see the money and our children are suffering, it’s painful. We want government to help our children with work, especially in starting businesses.”
On his part, Chairman of Nigeria Legion Gombe State chapter, Adamu Dogo, said only government fully redeemed it pledge of N5 million, adding that N2m was used to settle about 3000 widows in the state.
He said, “We don’t have permanent office our current space is situated in a rented house. Last year the governor redeemed his pledge of N5million. Out of 5million. I gave widows N2m, all the 11 Local Government Areas chairmen I gave them something automatically if you calculate the money. My car if I’m in transit it will nearly catch fire at is why I use to repair it with the little one I have that was why we can’t build new office.”
On the allegation that money don’t trickle down to vulnerable widows Dogo said, “Each local government has it chairman, those widows are under chairmen. I used to follow up, if you take 2 million to about 3000 it may not go far. I have been monitoring. Some used to redeem but not fully. Some may promise N50,000 in the public but will only send N20,000. I can’t force someone to give.
On the sacrifices and donations, Dogo disclosed that Nigerians have been fair saying, “Since they are paying us our pension but what I’m appealing for is an increase. Since the Federal Government knows that we have widows, orphans they should help us even in terms of employment. They should be able to give Nigeria Legion employment quota.”
