From Umar Dankano, Yola
Over 42,000 internally displaced persons of Borno state who were taking refuge in various IDPs camps in Adamawa State were evacuated back to their state weekend.
The Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha, made the disclosure, in an interview with journalists in Yola weekend, stressing that Borno State government has within three months recorded success in according IDPs sense of belonging and care.
Mustapha explained that, while on his sympathy visit to IDPs of Askira Uba, Lassa, Chibok, Gwoza and some displaced persons from other states in the Northeast, including Adamawa, 27, 000 IDPs were initially evacuated from Adamawa.
He however, stated that 15,000 of the IDPs were later evacuated out of Adamawa State last month and that arrangements were being intensified to evacuate more IDPs from the state soon.
Mustapha also disclosed that the government expends almost N600 million monthly for the upkeep of the state’s IDPs that are taking refuge in the various camps in Borno, Gombe and Adamawa states.
Mustapha lauded the efforts of the Adamawa State Government in the up keep of the various camps and in accommodating the IDPs, saying that Adamawa State government has been identifying with the plights of the displaced persons from various states affected by insurgency.
The Deputy Governor however regretted that the means of livelihood of the IDPs have been lost to the activities of the insurgents, which invariably prevented them from celebrating this year’s Christmas in their respective areas.
Mustapha expressed fears that Borno would experience food scarcity next year over the insurgents, which made about 90% of citizens not to harvest their crops this year, as they had to abandon their farmlands for their safety.
