indices of the number of people in IDP
camps across the country
– Buhari receives Ambassador Samantha
Power in Aso Rock
The number of all Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) and Nigerian refugees is
frightening, according to President
Muhammadu Buhari.
News men reports that Buhari made this
known at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where
he received Ambassador Samantha Power,
the United States permanent representatives
to the United Nations.
Speaking at the meeting, Buhari however
noted that his administration has begun the
process of comprehensive compilation of
their data to speed up their resettlement.
President Buhari says the number of all
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and
Nigerian refugees is frighteninng
He added that the compilation of the IDPs
and refugees was being done by designated
federal government agencies, the military
and other security agencies.
He said: ‘‘We have frightening indices of the
number of people and the situation in the IDP
camps across the country. And in spite of the
government’s efforts and the hospitality of
individuals and organizations, the situation
needs better handling.
“A large segment of the IDPs are mostly
women and children. Some of the children are
orphaned and don’t know where they came
from.
“Now we are working on getting a
comprehensive data of all the people in the
camps so that the government and NGOs will
be properly briefed on where and how to
support them,’ ’ he said.
Buhari added that IDPs, who were into
farming before they were displaced by the
Boko Haram, would be mobilized and
assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture to
return to their farms.
A statement by Femi Adesina, President
Buhari’s spokesman reads: “Ambassador
Power commended the federal government for
always being the first and highest responder to
the IDPs in various camps in the country.”
Power, who had earlier visited Nigerian
refugees in Cameroun, said the situation in
the camps could be improved with more
information on the number of people in the
camps and their areas of need.
Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima of
Borno state has revealed that the IDPs in
parts of the state consume about 1800 bags
of 50 kilogrammes of rice daily.
Shettima made this known while delivering
an address at the first annual Dialogue on
Rebuilding Peace in Borno state, on Tuesday,
April 19.
Food has been a major challenge for the
over two million IDPs currently living in
various camps and host communities in
Borno and other northern states.
According to Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Borno state, the
IDPs now steal foods from people’s houses
to stay alive.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the commandant of the
NSCDC, had said in an interview that the
command had recorded ten complaints of
food theft by residents of Jidari Polo area in
Borno state capital.
Millions of people have been displaced by
the Boko Haram insurgency which has
caused the death of about 20,000 people
since 2009.
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