Kano, Zamfara, others close IDP camps as inmates depart

The various camps established for Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna, Kano and Zamfara states have been closed following the reunion of the inmates with their families.

It was learnt that over 2,000 IDPs affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, were in the various camps at different times.

The Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, Alhaji Ali Bashir, said the temporary camp established in Dawakin Kudu Local Government area of the state was closed in January.

He said the camp was closed after all the IDPs from Mubi in Adamawa, Taraba and Borno states returned to their respective local government areas or went to stay with their relations.

Bashir, however, said the camp was recently reopened for two days when about 518 IDPs were evacuated from Geidam in Yobe State after they returned from Niger Republic.

He said, 'They were part of the 6, 000 persons who returned to the country from Niger Republic recently. The affected IDPs were kept at the temporary camp in Dawakin Kudu, but have since returned to their respective local government areas of origin, as they stayed for only one or two days.'

According to him, each of the IDPs was given N2, 500 as transport and feeding allowance, in addition to 50 bags of maize donated to them to alleviate their sufferings.

In Zamfara State, all the 143 IDPs have successfully rejoined their families, according to the Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Salisu Kwatarkwashi.

He said most of the affected persons, comprising women, children and the aged, were evacuated from Niger Republic through Gaidam in Yobe State.

Kwatarkwashi said, 'All the displaced persons that were confirmed to be indigenes of Zamfara State were transported from National Emergency Management Agency camp in Sokoto State, after which we took them to their respective emirate councils.

'At this moment, all the 143 persons have been re-integrated into their communities of origin and we have not received any complaint since their resettlement.'

He said his office had screened the IDPs health and mental status and were certified to be in good condition.

In Kaduna State, there was no official camp for IDPs from the conflict in the North-East, but the state government had set up various camps for those displaced by conflicts within the state.

Over 23, 890 people were affected by communal clashes since 2014 in Kaura, Kachia and Sanga local government areas of the state, all of whom had been rehabilitated and allowed to return to their homes.

The spokesman of the state Emergency Management Agency, Abubakar Zakari-Adamu, said presently, there was no IDPs camp anywhere in the state.

The Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency established a temporary camp to resettle about 513 IDPs that came from Karanga town in Niger Republic.

The Director of the agency, Alhaji Cindo Jega, said in Birnin Kebbi that the displaced persons were hosted at a camp for few days and reunited with their relations.

A transit camp established in Giedam, Yobe State, for displaced persons relocated from Niger Republic has also been closed.

The Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency, Charles Otegbade, said about 11,000 Nigerians relocated from Islands on Lake Chad had returned to the country. Agency report