Borno State Governor, 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.
Zulum announced the closure on Thursday in Gwoza after visiting the Government Secondary School IDP camp.
He also disclosed that the Gwoza camp would be shut within the next two to three weeks.
“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,” he said.
The governor said the decision was made possible by the relative peace that has returned to many 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, including Darajamal, Nguro Soye, Goniri, Banki, Abbaram, Ngoshe, Kirawa and Warabe.
Zulum, however, expressed concern over rising criminal activities in some camps, warning that Boko Haram and ISWAP elements were gradually infiltrating the facilities.
“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.
The governor also raised concerns about the growing number of people leaving their homes and returning to camps to access relief materials distributed by non-governmental organisations.
According to him, the screening exercise uncovered a significant number of fake IDPs, making it difficult for the government to continue maintaining the camps.
He added that more camps across the state would be closed before the end of his administration, while assuring that the return and resettlement process would be sustainable.
