Yobe Government shuts down IDPs Camp in Damaturu

Photo: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damaturu, Yobe State

The Yobe State Government has shut down the Bukar Ali Internally Displaced Persons [IDP] camp.

The camp is located south of Damaturu, the state capital.

Meanwhile, the camps in Pompomari, Kukareta and Muhammadu Gombe IDP camp in Damaturu say they are not in haste to return home.

The closure of the camp was prompted by a request by the IDPs to return to their various ancestral home.

The IDPs asked to be let loose owing to relative peace enjoyed across the state and the northeast as a result of recession of activities by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) made the request known to newsmen in Damaturu.

It was mixed feelings for the returnees as, for some, it was a thing of joy for the people to go back home, especially for the parents.

The children, on the other hand, looked sad and gloomy that their educational development have been truncated.

The area of concern in the return of the IDPs was that it would greatly affect the curriculum of children.

The children have within the period been enrolled into the educational system at the camp being run by the Army Education Corps.

The children, according to their teacher, Oke Eke of the Army Education Corps, have greatly improved over the period of their stay.

But their return would deal a big blow to their educational development.

Similarly, the President of the Yobe State chapter of the National Council of Women Society, Halima Joda, expressed sadness.

She was sad over the return of the children to their ancestral homes saying it would have adverse effects on their education.

They called on government to make the educational development of the children a top priority.

They asked that as they return to their villages, teachers also resume at their duty posts to impart in them knowledge for the growth and development of the society.

The closure of the camp would affect 92 households.

391 IDPs would return to their ancestral homes at Gambir, Malumti and Matirri villages in the long run.

Within t

The IDPS spent a period totalling 333 days in the camp.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Idi Jidawa revealed that 35 million Naira was spent for establishing the camp, feeding and general upkeep of the displaced persons.

Each of the returning household, according to him, would also be given a return package.

The packages will include bags of rice, vegetable oil, cooking pot among other household equipment with 20,000 Naira cash.

IDP Kasim Shetima, one of the pupils spoke on behalf of the returning IDPs.

He appreciated the contribution of the Yobe State government, the Nigeria Army, donor agencies and many others.

These are those who contributed to their welfare while their lasted.

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