Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has unveiled plans to relocate 6,000 families displaced by Boko Haram, primarily from Dikwa and Mafa local government areas.
Speaking on Monday at Muna IDP camp — one of the largest camps sheltering around 11,000 families — Zulum stressed that the resettlement initiative is necessary due to rising levels of illegal activities in the camp.
“Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement taking place. People have to go back to their homes and earn their livelihood. We have observed that in the IDP camp, there is increasing prostitution, increasing gangsterism, cases of child abuse and other criminalities,” Zulum said.
He further stated, “If you could remember, about four years ago, we announced that all formal IDP camps within the Maiduguri metropolis would be closed. So far, so good, we have closed all down, about 12 of them. We have two informal camps remaining. We have resettled about 75% of the IDPs here (Muna camp), and the remaining 25% will return to their ancestral localities in the next few days.”
As part of the reintegration package, the state government will provide each family with food items, building materials for shelter, and medical support.
Zulum also revealed that each household head, male or female, would receive N100,000, while housewives would be given an additional N50,000.
Plans to Enhance Skill Centre at Maiduguri Correctional Facility
During a separate engagement on Monday, Governor Zulum announced plans to revamp the vocational and skill acquisition centre at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional Facility. The move is aimed at strengthening rehabilitation efforts and lowering the chances of former inmates returning to criminal life.
Zulum, who visited the facility in the morning, emphasized that the purpose of incarceration should be to reform individuals, not merely to detain them. He stated, “I am here to examine the living conditions of the inmates here, especially in the areas of technical and vocational skills.
The essence of keeping them at the correctional facility is largely to reform them, but this cannot be feasible without facilities on the ground. We can also examine cases of some inmates, and within the ambit of the law, we will look at the possibility of releasing those convicted of minor offences,” Zulum said.
Accompanying the governor on the visit were House of Representatives member Bukar Talba, Acting Chief of Staff Babagana Mallumbe, Special Adviser on Religious Affairs Shiekh Modu Mustapha, and the Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Barrister Mustapha Ali Busuguma.
What you should know
Governor Babagana Zulum is relocating 6,000 families from Muna IDP camp as part of Borno’s broader post-insurgency recovery efforts. He’s also investing in prison reforms by upgrading vocational training at the Maiduguri Correctional Facility to support inmate rehabilitation.
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