Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has resettled 6,000 families displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in a fresh move aimed at restoring peace and dignity to victims of the decade-long insurgency.
The resettled families, who mostly hail from Dikwa and Mafa local government areas, were previously sheltered at Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp—one of the largest camps in Maiduguri, housing about 11,000 families.
Speaking during the resettlement flag-off on Monday, Zulum decried the rising cases of social vices within the camp, stating that the decision was necessary to curb illicit activities and promote self-reliance among the IDPs.
“Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement taking place. People have to go back to their homes and earn their livelihood. In the camp, we’ve seen increasing prostitution, gangsterism, child abuse, and other criminalities,” Zulum told journalists.
He recalled the state government’s commitment over the past four years to shut down all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri metropolis, saying 12 have been closed so far, leaving only two informal camps.
According to the governor, 75 percent of Muna camp’s residents have now been resettled, with the remaining 25 percent set to return to their ancestral communities in the coming days.
As part of the resettlement package, each family will receive food items, shelter materials, and access to healthcare.
Additionally, male and female heads of households will receive N100,000 each, while their wives will get N50,000 as livelihood support.
In a related development, Zulum announced plans to upgrade the vocational training centre at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
He made this known during a visit to the facility on Monday morning, where he emphasised the need for effective rehabilitation of inmates.
“The essence of keeping them at the correctional facility is largely to reform them, but this cannot be feasible without the right facilities.
We will assess cases of inmates convicted of minor offences and, within legal bounds, consider their release,” he said.
Governor Zulum was accompanied on the visit by Hon. Bukar Talba of the House of Representatives, Acting Chief of Staff Dr. Babagana Mallumbe, Special Adviser on Religious Affairs Sheikh Modu Mustapha, and Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Barr. Mustapha Ali Busuguma.
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