MAIDUGURI, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Borno State Government on Tuesday said over $20m is needed to resettle those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency back to their homelands.
It will be recalled that at the peak of the insurgency, 22 of the 27 local governments of the state were captured by the insurgents, which led to about two million people fleeing to Maiduguri, the state capital, and a couple of others taking refuge in neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
The insurgency also led to the capture of the local government areas, destroying infrastructure in Maiduguri.
Addressing a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Maiduguri, led by its President, Mr. Peter Maurer, the Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, who stood in for his Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said the state government needs the assistance of all, including the Federal Government and international donor agencies, to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons..
Mustapha lamented that since the displacement of many residents from their communities by Boko Haram insurgents, the state government has had to shoulder the responsibility of feeding the IDPs through the State Emergency Management Agency.
He noted that although military troops have liberated most of the communities under the control of Boko Haram in the state, the government and the IDPs found it difficult to go back to their homes and pick up the pieces of their lives due to security reports that said most of the roads and streets leading to the affected communities and their farmlands were not safe as Improvised Explosive Devices and landmines had been planted by departing terrorists.
He however commended the effort of the Red Cross for its humanitarian assistance to the victims of the insurgency.
He said, “We, the government and good people of Borno state, want to use this opportunity to thank you (Red Cross), NEMA and other donor agencies for supporting us in this our trying moment. Twenty-two out of the 27 local government areas were destroyed. Over one million IDPs are living in Maiduguri, the state capital, alone.
“Just yesterday, we received another batch of 4,500 IDPs from Geidam who were sent away by the government of Niger Republic and more are still on their way to Maiduguri.”
Credit: Punch (Nigeria)
