The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Internally displaced persons (IDPs)

  • IDP camps: IGP constitutes panel to probe alleged sexual abuses

    IDP camps: IGP constitutes panel to probe alleged sexual abuses

    A special investigation team has been constituted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to probe cases of alleged sexual abuses and other crimes against Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    An international group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) had alleged that officials and security forces were sexually abusing, exploiting and harassing IDPs in some of the camps in the northeastern part of the country.

    According to a statement by the Force Headquarters’ spokesman, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Idris urged HRW to avail the panel more facts to aid its assignment on the 43 cases mentioned.

    Assuring of the IGP’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians, especially the vulnerable, Awunah said he expressed deep concerns over the right group’s submissions.

    He said: “The IGP has directed the Special Investigation Panel to carry out a discreet and unbiased investigation into all the cases of abuse and misconduct alleged in the report.

    “He has also directed Commissioners of Police in locations where IDP Camps are situated to beef up security ensure adequate safety of all IDPs and ensure that all perpetrators of any criminal act are decisively dealt with in accordance to the law.

    “The IGP further urge all police officers and other personnel deployed to the IDP camps to strictly adhere to the rules of engagement. The Force will not condone any act that violate the human dignity of the IDPs by individuals or group of persons in the camps or anywhere in the country.”

  • Suicide attacks: NEMA urges Borno residents, IDPs, to be more vigilant

    Suicide attacks: NEMA urges Borno residents, IDPs, to be more vigilant

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday advised Borno residents, especially the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), to be more vigilant, following increased suicide attacks targeted at the displaced persons in Maiduguri.

    Malam Muhammad Kanar, the North East Coordinator of the agency, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    Kanar said that the attacks were a sign of desperation by the Boko Haram insurgents to cause havoc in the IDP camps.

    “It is true that they have been trying all these while to gain access into the city and wreak havoc, but the security agents have been up and doing in preventing them.

    “Those that came in on Saturday were the first two and then today we had another one that was detected early enough by the security agents, ” he said.

    Kanar said that residents must collaborate with the security agents by being more vigilant to prevent future attacks.

    “This is the kind of challenge we sometimes face in carrying out humanitarian service.

    ” But definitely, we have confidence in the military and other security agents, the challenges shall come to pass,” he said.

    NAN recalls that nine persons were killed in a twin suicide attacks in Maiduguri on Saturday while another suspected suicide attack was foiled by the military on Sunday near the scene of that of Saturday.

  • Army donates teaching, learning materials to IDPs schools

    The Nigerian Army on Friday donated teaching and learning materials worth several millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Schools in Yola.

    Presenting the items to the camp’s management, Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said that the gesture was to create quick impact to uplift the plight of the IDPs.

    Irabor explained that the gesture was from the Nigerian Army quick impact project, soldiers of the education corps, and other officers deployed to teach in the various IDPs schools in the camps across the north east region.

    “The Nigerian Army introduced a humanitarian dimension to the IDP camps to uplift their plight.

    “And as part of the quick impact, Army deployed officers and soldiers of the education corps to teach in various IDPs camps in the North East region,’’ he said.

    Irabor, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. B. Akinroluyo, said that the tragedy of insecurity is a global concern and Nigeria shares part of it.

    He said that the activities of terrorists and insurgents and threats posed by the duo were among the maladies affecting the Nigerian state.

    The commander explained that the army had been in the forefront of all the challenges with all its might and resources to contain the terrorists and bring back normal life to affected citizens.

    Speaking earlier, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba said the gesture came at the right time.

    Bello thanked the army for the humanitarian assistance adding that their gallant efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the area in general, and the IDPs camps in particular, cannot be over emphasised.

    Mr. Mahmud Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that the state government’s top priority was provision of education to all.

    Abubakar said that the state government would continue to partner with well-meaning organisation in transforming the education sector in the state.

     

  • Buhari to confer with German leaders on security, humanitarian issues

    Buhari to confer with German leaders on security, humanitarian issues

    President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to embark on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from October 13th to 15th, 2016.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari in Berlin will confer with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany, including further cooperation on security, the humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation of the North-East, and trade and economic relations between both countries.

    The President will thereafter meet with Federal President Joachim Gauck, in the company of Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo and representatives of the National Assembly.

    The statement reads: “In furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors.

    “Before returning to Abuja, the President is expected to meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Germany.

    “President Buhari is committed to deepening relations with Germany and building on the very cordial relations both countries enjoy in several areas of bilateral cooperation including the fight against terrorism, economic relations, rebuilding of the North east, support for IDPs, vocational training, energy partnership and cultural relations.

    Shortly after his inauguration on May 29, 2015, President Buhari, on the invitation of Chancellor Merkel, attended the G7 summit in Elmau, Germany, which was his first trip to a non-African country after his assumption of office.

    From February 8 to 12 this year, President Gauck, accompanied by a delegation of German business community, was on an official visit to Nigeria, where they had fruitful discussions on trade and investments with representatives of government and the private sector in Abuja and Lagos.

  • Insurgency: Borno reopens secondary schools next week

    Insurgency: Borno reopens secondary schools next week

    The Borno Government said on Monday that it would re-open public secondary schools next week, two years after they were closed due to Boko Haram insurgency.

    The state’s Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Inuwa Kubo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) occupying the schools had been relocated to allow for resumption of academic activities.

    Kubo said that repairs had been carried out on all the structures in the schools to provide atmosphere, conducive for teaching and learning.

    “I wish to announce that on Sept. 26, all public schools are going to be re-opened.

    “I want to state that government has repaired all the structures damaged by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the schools, to ensure comfort for the returning students.

    “Parents and guardians should please make sure that they send their children back to school,” he said.

    Kubo, however, decried the prolong closure of the schools and the fact that proprietors of private schools took undue advantage of the development to charge arbitrary fees.

    “We understand that some of them have taken undue advantage of the closure to hike school fees; we will not allow the situation to continue.

    “We are going to visit the schools to find out how much they are charging and how much they are paying their teachers.”

    NAN recalls that the schools were shut in March, 2014, after suspected terrorists attacked a school in neighbouring Yobe.

    The government reopened the primary schools in 2915 but could not do so with the secondary schools because they had been taken over by IDPs.

  • UN seeks urgent help for Nigerian IDPs

    UN seeks urgent help for Nigerian IDPs

    The United Nations (UN) has called on the Nigerian government and the international community to take urgent humanitarian measures to save lives and ensure the protection of the multitude of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the north-east of the country.

    UN expert on internally displaced persons (IDPs), Chaloka Beyani described the situation resulting from the Boko Haram terror campaign and government’s counter-insurgency measures as “displaying all the hallmarks of the highest category crises.”

    Beyani, who spoke after a four-day visit to Nigeria, said the fighting in the north east has created more than 2.5 million IDPs in the region.

    He noted that the extend of the crisis and the resultant damages to lives and property in the north east was just being appreciated.

    Beyani said the civilians, including children, leaving newly liberated areas, bear the signs of advanced malnutrition, and of deep trauma, having been caught in a conflict that has cost them their homes, their livelihoods and often their family members.

    “The situation must no longer be downplayed and it is not too late to save many lives. But to do this, the Government must act urgently to ensure that food, shelter, medical care, water, sanitation and other essential services reach IDPs without delay.

    “Due to a gross under estimation of the crisis, the existing supplies will only cover needs for a very short period of time and will be soon outstripped by demands in the weeks or months ahead.

    “The vast majority of IDPs live outside camps and receive little or no assistance. Urgent steps are required to identify those people and assess their needs, particularly those of the most vulnerable, as well as the needs of host communities who are supporting them with their own resources,” Beyani said.

    The UN office in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, said Beyani, who visited IDP camps in the Maiduguri area, highlighted that many people within camps in newly liberated areas may be faring little better.

    “Food is scarce and many survive on one basic meal per day while medical care is insufficient. Civilians also require urgent protection, psychosocial support and counseling.

    “Humanitarian agencies have little access to some areas due to security concerns and have been targeted by Boko Haram, whose terror activities have been contained by the Nigerian military but still pose a significant threat and danger,” he stated.

    “Camps should offer protection. Yet I am alarmed to learn that many are in fact the settings for exploitation and abuse of the most vulnerable. Reports indicate that women and girls face demands for sex to access food or to leave the camps.

    “Early pregnancy and marriage are commonplace while many do not report abuse due to stigmatization, cultural factors and the knowledge that perpetrators can abuse with impunity. Protection measures must be stepped-up and camps must quickly come under trained civilian management to prevent abuses,” Beyani said.

     

  • We will restore confidence in IDPs – Buhari

    We will restore confidence in IDPs – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration would restore the confidence of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by fast-tracking their voluntary return, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.

    The president gave the assurance when he received the outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Asharaf Abdelkader Salama at State House, Abuja.

    He commended Egypt for identifying with challenges confronting the country, especially the plight of IDPs, which he said had remained a topmost priority for the Nigerian Government.

    “The displaced persons want to go back to their homes. They want to resume their normal lives. They want to go back to the land, which they have not cultivated for over three years now.

    “We will work to restore their confidence, and also work on infrastructure, so that they can quickly resettle,” he said.

    The President noted that the bond of friendship between Nigeria and Egypt was very strong as demonstrated in their growing cooperation on regional and international issues.

    In his remarks, Salama, who spent four years in Nigeria, said he was the first foreign diplomat to travel by road from Maiduguri to Yobe, North Eastern Nigeria, last month.

    He told the President he was proud to have made the journey through an area once considered a stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists, following the successes recorded by the Nigerian military fighting insurgents in the region.

    He described the people of Nigeria as “friendly and generous’’, saying he hoped to be back in the country again.

    News Agency of Nigeria {NAN} reports that president Buhari also received the outgoing Ambassadors of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Tanzania.

    During the audience with Ambassador Oubi Bachir of SADR, Buhari reiterated Nigeria’s support for Sahrawi people’s self-determination and independence.

    Amb. Bachir’s duty tour to Nigeria spanned eight years during which he served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

    On Tanzania, President Buhari told the High Commissioner, Daniel Ole Njoolay, that the East African country was fortunate to have a leader who cared so much for the less privileged in the society.

    The President said Tanzania was blessed with good land and gas, which could be used for the good people of the country.

    Ambassador Njoolay spent two years and eight months in the country.

  • Troops rescue 88 hostages in Borno

    Troops rescue 88 hostages in Borno

    ...Kill three insurgents

    Troops on clearance operations in the Northeast have rescued 88 people in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and killed three during an encounter.

    A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, in Abuja on Tuesday, said 28 people of those rescued, claimed they escaped from Bula Musa village.

    Usman said the 28 people comprised two men, nine women and 17 children, adding that the troops killed three terrorists during separate encounter.

    “They have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies,” Usman said.

    He said that another 23, comprising a man, five women and 17 children were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama.

    Usman said this was after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.

    “In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.

    “They were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF who, later handed them over to the Dikwa IDPs camp management for further registration and rehabilitation,’’ Usman said.

    He said those deployed at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.

    “The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on preliminary investigation confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters, and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village, Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.

    ‪”They, terrorists, attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over to the Joint Investigation centre for further interrogation,’’ he said.

    ‪The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages.

    ‪He said following information that terrorists were extorting residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds.

    ‪Usman said the troops recovered one AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the insurgents.

    In a related development, Usman said the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam Zanna Karamma had visited Bama IDPs camp.

    He said the team registered internally displaced persons below 17 of age for distribution of non-food items, adding that they would be trained on skills acquisition and construction of temporary shelter.

  • Boko Haram : NEMA re-unites 200 children with parents

    Boko Haram : NEMA re-unites 200 children with parents

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday said it had reunited more than 200 children with their parents affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr Sa’ad Bello, the Head of Operations, Adamawa and Taraba office of the agency, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

    Bello said that the successful re-unification was conducted with the collaboration of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) under Restoring Family Link Programme.

    He said that the children, mostly of between the age of five and 12, were from Bama and Baga in Borno.

    “Meanwhile, we still have about 165 unaccompanied children in four designated camps in Adamawa,” he said.

    The official said some families from Bama visited some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Yola where they identified their children.

    He said after intensive investigation by appropriate authorities concerned, the children were handed over to their parents.

    He said that the agency with the support of ICRC, was working hard, through appropriate channels, to identify the parents of the remaining unaccompanied children.

    NAN reports that family reunification during armed conflicts is a right under international law.

    The development is in line with the fourth Geneva Convention.

    The convention states that governments should facilitate the reunification of separated families according to the standards of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

  • We are moving all IDPs back to Gwoza- Ndume

    We are moving all IDPs back to Gwoza- Ndume

    Sen. Muhammad Ndume, representing Borno South at the National Assembly, on Tuesday announced plans to relocate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Gwoza living in camps in Lagos, Abuja and Maiduguri back home.

    Ndume made the announcement while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri.

    He said that the IDPs would be evacuated to transit camps pending when they would be able to go back to their homes.

    “I am a serious advocate of dismantling the IDPs camps and I am working on that.

    “We plan to create transit camps in various localities to move our IDPs from Gwoza,” Ndume said.

    He said that keeping IDPs camps for long was counter-productive.

    “In the history of the IDP camps worldwide, once you insist on keeping the camps, then you are creating a permanent den for criminality and laziness.

    “The IDPs have been there for three years; I always tell them continue to stay there if that is the life you want to live,” Ndume said.

    The lawmaker said he had held talks with Gwoza IDPs in Lagos and Abuja toward finalising the arrangement to evacuate them.

    “We are moving all IDPs from the FCT back home to Gwoza, they have agreed to go back to transit camps in Gwoza and Pulka.

    “So, from there people can go see their destroyed houses and try to fix them and go back.

    “I met with 29 various groups in the IDP camps in FCT and I am going to Lagos to tell them we are closing the camps.

    “The people have agreed that once government gives them little support to go back they will go back,’’ he said.

    Ndume said that the FCT Emergency Management Authority and National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had also agreed to provide support for the movement.

    “We are talking with the FCT Emergency Management Authority and NEMA they have all agreed to help,” he said.

    Ndume said that the newly -appointed Gwoza Local Government Area caretaker chairman will inaugurate his council in Gwoza in a few days time.

    “We are making arrangement to go back home, the local government caretaker chairman will inaugurate his council in Gwoza.

     

    “The council will move to Gwoza, if the council moves to Gwoza anybody staying elsewhere is on his own,” he said.

     

    Ndume said the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Muhammad Timta, had also agreed to relocate to Gwoza.

     

    “The Emir is going back to Gwoza any moment from now,” he said.