Zulum Orders Closure Of Bama IDP Camp, Targets Gwoza

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has ordered the immediate closure of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Bama, the largest displacement facility outside Maiduguri, the state capital.

Naija News reports that Zulum announced the directive on Thursday in Gwoza after visiting the Government Secondary School IDP camp, where he also disclosed that the Gwoza camp would be shut within the next two to three weeks.

The governor said the closure followed a screening exercise conducted among displaced persons in Bama and Gwoza.

“We visited Bama yesterday and supervised the screening of IDPs. By noon today, the Bama IDP camp should be closed. We have also profiled residents in Gwoza, and Insha Allah, this camp will be closed in the next two or three weeks,” Zulum said.

He explained that the decision was made possible by the relative peace that had returned to several communities previously occupied by Boko Haram insurgents.

Over the past seven years, the Borno State Government has resettled displaced persons in several communities across Bama Local Government Area.

The communities include Darajamal, Nguro Soye, Goniri, Banki, Abbaram, Ngoshe, Kirawa and Warabe.

Zulum said the government would continue to pursue a return and resettlement programme that is sustainable and safe for displaced persons.

The governor, however, expressed concern over rising criminal activities in some camps, warning that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements were gradually infiltrating the facilities.

According to him, the development had made it necessary for government to take decisive action.

“There is ongoing criminality in the camps. We have identified those involved and will return them to their communities under the supervision of their local leaders,” he said.

Zulum also raised concerns over the growing number of people who had left their communities and returned to IDP camps in order to access relief materials distributed by non-governmental organisations.

He said the screening exercise uncovered a significant number of fake IDPs, making it difficult for the government to continue maintaining the camps.

The governor added that more IDP camps across the state would be closed before the end of his administration.

He assured residents that the return process would be handled in a sustainable manner, while government would continue to support resettled communities.