"OVER 20,000 PRIVATE HOMES ALREADY REBUILT"....SHETTIMA

Following the resolve to return home for resettlement, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has said that Government will ensure full civil security before the IDPs return to their homes.

Governor Shettima who disclosed this on Sunday, said that his administration wanted to close all IDP camps since May, 2016 after the establishment of Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement in September, 2015 as he wanted a safe and dignified return of IDPs but only after putting the right things in place and, as much as he wants IDPs to return, he is also concerned about their safety. 

The Borno state governor disclosed that; "already, rebuilding is completed in some local government areas and, in the case of Bama, it has advanced with most of the health facilities, schools and over 20,000 private homes already rebuilt".

He discosed that, under a pilot programme called "The Bama Initiative", Borno state government is currently training a special anti-terrorism team of policemen and civillian JTF that will be stationed in Bama to replace soldiers that are currently there. 

According to Gov Shettima, "the security guards will include agro farmers whose duty will be to safeguard and secure farmers in their farmlands.

However, some of the IDP's who spoke wih this reporter, disclosed that, in spite of the security arrangments by the Borno state government to provide adequate security, many of the returning IDP's have cited the high rents, increasing costs in the price of foodstuff due to its absence, the poor sanitary situations and sufferings Internally Displaced Persons, IDP's have to contend with not to talk of the hostile environment which is compelling many to trek the over 70 kilometres back home for resettlement.

Some say the insurgents still carry out attacks on soft targets where security is weak and this causing fears amongst IDP's in the various camps as it has now become unsafe