14th May, 2015
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger state on Thursday said it had received no fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in the state.
The agency said that the IDPs comprised men, women, children and the aged, who were victims of the Boko Haram insurgency were recently evacuated from Niger Republic.
NEMA Coordinator in the state, Mr Slaku Lugard, disclosed this at a news briefing in Minna, and said that the IDPs were received in three batches on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“We received letter from NEMA Zonal Coordinator in Maiduguri informing us that the agency was sending IDPs to the state.
“When they arrived, the first thing we did was to take their records and documented them to really certify that they are displaced persons.
“Through the state government, security personnel from the DSS, Police, Immigration Service are also here in the Hajj Camp where the IDPs are kept to monitor the returnees,” he said.
Similarly, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba of the state’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that the organisation had commenced the dispatch of the IDPs to their local government areas.
Shaba said that two batches had been moved to their areas, adding that adequate medical care had been provided to the people.
He, however, added that that some IDPs, especially pregnant women and children, needed special care.
“We have enough medical personnel that have been screening and checking their health status; we have also provided them with relief materials.
“After dispatching them to their various local government areas, we will do a follow up to ensure that their coming will not constitute any social problem in the state,” he said.
One of the IDPs, Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman, told NAN that they were fishermen from Doro Baga who escaped to Niger Republic to seek refuge and were deported.
“I am married with four children. I lost two of my children during Boko Haram attacks. I am an indigene of Nassarawa state,” he said.
Another returnee, Malam Usman Ali, told NAN that they were camped in Niger Republic for 10 months before they were evacuated.
“I am a butcher and an indigene of Niger state, from Rafi Local Government Area. The reason why the Niger Republic deported us is because they said that they suspected us to be members of the Boko Haram.
“We are not Boko Haram members; we are helpless refugees in need of help.
“If Yobe State becomes peaceful again, I am one of the persons that will return there,” he said.