The
Bama Initiative for Human Development, an NGO, on Sunday in Maiduguri
staged a peaceful demonstration demanding the return of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their respective communities in Bama...
The
group’s Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan, said that the IDPs would
want to return and continue their normal activities in view of the
prevailing peace in the state.
Hassan
noted that about 70 per cent of the reconstruction and rehabilitation
projects had been completed in the area, saying that they were tired of
living as displaced persons.
“We are in Maiduguri for more than three years without meaningful means of livelihoods. The condition of our people is pathetic.
“The
elongation in the process of returning displaced persons to their
homes is moving at a snail pace and exposed them to unbearable
conditions.
“We
could no longer send our children to school; many have died of hunger
and starvation. Most of us live in host communities and no one is
supporting us,” Hassan stated.
He
said that most of them were traumatised, coupled with serious neglect
and poor living condition, adding that they are ready to trek back to
Bama.
The Police, however, stopped the demonstrators from embarking on the trek and urged them to drop the idea because of safety.
Mr
Damian Chukwu, the Police Commissioner in the state, said that the
group had not notified the command over their planned return to Bama.
He
advised the IDPs to dialogue with the state government and other
stakeholders over their demand so that adequate preparations would be
made.
“The
police have a duty to protect you and we will not allow you to gather
people and expose them to danger in the name of home return.
“Also,
there is massive reconstruction and rehabilitation works going on in
the town, executed by the Federal and State Government under the Bama
Initiative.
“We
will not allow you to go because of your safety, you better go back
and wait for the time when government will permit your return to the
town,” he said.
In
his reaction, Gov. Kashim Shettima urged the IDPs to cooperate with
government to fast-track the completion of rehabilitation projects in
the town.
Malam
Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to the governor, Communication and
Media Strategy made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
“It
is to the government’s advantage if IDPs return home because their
return will lessen economic burden of supporting them as displaced
persons.
“The
greatest wish of the governor is the safe and dignified return of all
IDPs to their communities. Much as he wants the IDPs to return, he is
also concerned about their safety.
“Gov.
Shettima is consistently committed to the ongoing rebuilding of
private homes, police stations, hospitals, schools, water facilities,
markets, council secretariats and other essential services in
communities across 15 local government areas of the state,’’ he said.
Gusau
explained that government had constructed 20,000 housing units in Bama
and provided modern health facilities, schools and police stations in
the area.
He
added that the Federal Government was currently training a special
Anti-Terrorism Squad and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to be
deployed to the town under the Bama Initiative.
The
spokesman added that the special squad and the agro-rangers,
specifically trained to secure farmers in their farmlands would replace
the military.
“We have to ensure that there is full return of civil security before IDPs can return.
“The governor encourages safe and dignified return only after putting the right things in place,” Gusau said.
According
to him, the state government had re-built houses and re-settled
displaced persons in parts of Kaga, Konduga and Gwoza Local Government
Areas of the state.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thousands of persons were
forced to flee their homes when the Boko Haram insurgents sacked Bama
town in 2014.
Hundreds of people were killed, maimed or abducted while the entire structures in the town were razed by the insurgents.
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