Borno Warns IDPs Against ‘Hurried Return’ To Destroyed Communities

THE Borno State government has warned all Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in various resettlement camps of Maiduguri metropolis “not to return” to their destroyed communities, despite the recapture of about 40 towns and villages from
insurgents by the military in the Northeast sub-region.

The IDPs, according to Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), are over 100,000, and are currently taking refuge in 13 resettlement
camps of Maiduguri and Biu.

Speaking yesterday in Maiduguri over the state of IDPs camps and displaced persons, the Chairman of SEMA, Alhaji Grema Terab disclosed that contrary to speculations and rumours going rounds, that the
displaced persons have not returned to their respective destroyed communities after the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

He said none of the IDPS returned to their respective towns and villages in any of the three Senatorial Districts, affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state.

Terab, however, said: “The only exception as at the conclusion of gubernatorial and State House of Assembly election, was the transportation and return of Borno IDPs to Bosso and Diffa towns in
Niger Republic and other towns of Gombe, Kano, Mubi and Abuja in Nigeria by the state government last week.”

He said that all the displaced persons in camps should continue to remain in their respective resettlement centres until the military and other
security agencies give clearance to SEMA for the return of all displaced persons.

“Let me use this opportunity to warn displaced persons against their hurried returns to say Baga, Monguno, Gwoza, Bama or any of the communities sacked by Boko Haram insurgents. We cannot embark on such exercise of retuning displaced persons to their
respective destroyed towns and villages, unless there is a security clearance from the military and other security operatives fighting Boko Haram in Borno state,” Terab said yesterday.