Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East have begged for restoration of peace in the region, saying such achievement would afford them the opportunity to return to their original homes and livelihoods.
This was as they lamented that their displacement as a result of Boko Haram activities have thrown them to the dark side of life, wondering if they would ever return to their ancestral homes again.
The IDPs, under the umbrella of Conference of North East IDPs, in a statement made available to Blueprint in Abuja Tuesday, expressed displeasure with the current state of insecurity in the country, recalling that they had thought the appointments of new service chiefs would make a difference but it’s not so.
In the statement signed by Alhaji Umar Shafa, for Borno State; Chief Bitrus Waja representing Adamawa State and Mallam Mohammed Buni, for Yobe State, respectively, they particularly begged President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action against insecurity so that total peace could be restored.
They said: “It is with heavy hearts that we make this press statement. It is to express our frustration with the current security situation in the North East, particularly the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), whose plights are not only getting more frustrated but also out of hand on a daily basis.
“The hope of getting back to our communities is dimming every day without any sign of it getting better. The Boko Haram threats have assumed a new dimension with direct target on farming communities and markets. This is is a deliberate act to weaken the economy of the North East. Farmers are killed and their farms and livestock destroyed or stolen.
“We’re are more worried that the press is giving little attention to this incidents which happens on a daily basis. However, we thank Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who distinguished himself among equals by his exemplary leadership qualities. He has personally proven that he is a governor with the heart of the people and we will continue to support and pray for him.”
They added: “We heard about the news of the appointments of the new service chiefs, we thought that things would have changed for better by now but to our greatest surprise, the insecurity had gotten worse and taking another dimension with new threats every hour.
“Even in the IDPs’ camps, we are now leaving in perpetual fear, given that we do not know what could happen any time. We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure his security architecture for effective results,so that we can return to our respective homes.”
The group which also lamented the continuous infiltration of camps by fake persons with ulterior motives, appealing to the federal and state governments to strengthen security around them besides ensuring provision of basic necessities of life.
They claimed members were constantly being killed and raped by people infiltrating their midst just as they said the deplorable condition of the camps has made members gullible to rapists and other attacks.
“We appeal to authorities to make our feeding, shelter, health and other basic necessities of life their priorities so that our situation is greatly improved. We did not wish to be in camps but found ourselves here by circumstances.
“The government at all levels should look into our situation with a view to ameliorating our condition. We particularly beg that the war against insecurity be expedited so we can return to our homes to pursue our legitimate businesses,” they said.
