On Sunday November 15th, Sesôr and friends, with support from The Grooming Centre in Ejigbo, visited displaced persons at a missionary church in Magodo where hundreds of displaced women, men and children are being hosted. Also present with us at the outreach were NTA, sabinews, France 28, Ecologistics Integrated Service Limited, our new supporter, OzzyBee and a few others. Sesôr and friends donated food items (e.g. rice, noodles, vegetable oil, salt), writing materials for the children, detergent, bathing soap, sanitary towels, paper towels, clothes and shoes.

The IDPs present at the outreach

While addressing them, the Executive Director, Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, noted that terror attacks affected everybody as evidenced by the recent attacks in Paris, France. Jonathan-Ichaver stated that earlier outreaches and advocacy efforts were yielding fruit as 31 youth and children were now being sponsored by Mend A Life and Home Foundation at a residential educational facility in Lagos. She assured the survivors of Sesôr’s continued support and advocacy on their behalf and promised that Sesôr would be back to celebrate Christmas with them.

Jonathan-Ichaver addressing IDPs while a volunteer translates to Hausa

Speaking to some of the young men, Asekome recorded the moving story of 19-year old Amos*  who fled from Madagali in Adamawa and has been in Lagos since 2014 who has found shelter in an uncompleted church building.  “I sleep on my motorcycle at night  or on the low fence of the church because I cannot afford to pay for a pako (wooden/cardboard shack) within the church premises like the few that are lucky enough to do so”. Amos survives by transporting passengers on his motorcycle all day long just to feed while he hopes that a miracle of some sort will happen for him and the other displaced persons.
29 year-old Paul* found relative safety in Lagos in December 2014 after fleeing attacks in his hometown, Madagali, Adamawa state. He  also lives in the same area as Amos but nowhere near the church. He and his relatives staying with him in his little shack were evicted from their ‘home’ that Sunday morning.  “I will have to find a place to build a pako not too far away from the previous location until help comes.”

Sesôr continues to advocate for the hundreds who have fled to Lagos to gain access to shelter and more relief and will be having a Christmas party for these resilient survivors and their children in December.  To support Sesor’s work, please email info@sesorafrica.org

Food items, sanitary items and clothes donated

Sesôr team member interviewing some of the displaced men

A Sesôr volunteer recording data of displaced women

Jonathan-Ichaver with Ecologistics Integrated Service Limited team members

Some of the young men telling their story to sabinews.com

*The names used in the post have been changed.