Senator Ndume Calls On IDP’s From Gwazo To Return Home

The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called on all Internally Displaced Persons from Gwazo to return home, assuring them of their safety.

Ndume stated this while addressing the IDPs in Bakassi and Gubio camps in Maiduguri on Monday.

The lawmaker, who was seen wiping tears from his eyes expressed disappointment over the resettlement at the Gwoza even when normalcy had returned to the town.

The Senator stated that the insecurity in the state has turned many people in Gwoza to almost beggers and they have to wait to be given stipends before they can eat.

“The Palestinian IDPs camp has been existing for 60 years; in Kenya, it existed for about 30 years.”

“So, insecurity cannot be completely eliminated. We must therefore defy fears, summon courage and be resilient in order to achieve permanent solution to our problems.”

“It is understood that some of them are traumatised because of what happened to them and they are scared they may be attacked again while some are thinking of what to do when they go back home.”

“We have people of Izge and Limakara who lived inside the deep mountains, but have consistently defeated Boko Haram because they are resilient, focused, vigilant and always at alert.”

“Because of their resilience, they are now expanding their territories; we can also do the same in Gwoza,” he said.

Ndume said that the government had already made efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct many residential homes, schools, clinics, palace and other social amenities to enhance civic authority.

“The Federal Government is also focusing on rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) with an approved take-off sum of N95 billion”.

Senator Ndume pointed to the recent donation of #8 billion by the European to support Post Insurgency Response, Recovery and Resilience for the IDPs in the education sector.

He stated that Gwoza was among the nine local government areas to benefit from the intervention.

While speaking on security he appreciated the Nigerian armed forces for adopting proactive modalities to secure returnees in their farmlands, homes and markets places.

The Senator expressed optimism that many farmers would record bumper harvests this cropping season, in view of improvement on security of lives and property.

“Improved security situation and support from humanitarian organisations have encouraged many farmers from Firgi, Pulka, Warabe and Kirawa communities in Gwoza to go back to their farms this year,” he said.