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The House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states over unpaid agriculture loans granted them before their displacement.
This followed a motion moved by Rep. Adamu Kamale (PDP-Adamawa) on the need to halt the arrest and prosecution of returning IDPs over loans granted by the Bank of Agriculture before their displacement.
Moving the motion, Kamale noted that most of the farmers at the point of displacement were beneficiaries of various agriculture loans, subsidy on fertiliser, tractor hiring and implements.
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However, the lawmaker explained that at the time of the attacks in the North East by Boko Haram insurgents, most of the farm produce were still unharvested, adding that their livestock were carted away by the insurgents.
Kamale expressed worry that presently, several returnee IDPs in the affected region were being threatened with arrest and prosecution over the loans granted to them.
The House, therefore, mandated its committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the matter and report back within four weeks for further legislative input.
