Borno Commences Relocation of IDPs from Schools

With the decision of Borno State to reopen all public schools that had been closed down for about two years due to insecurity posed by the Boko haram insurgents, over 4500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) have so far been relocated to established IDP Camps.

Some of the existing IDP camps are located in public schools.

The relocation exercise which is being coordinated by the military, security operatives and Borno State’s Relocation Committee (SREC) has witnessed the movement of a batch of 4,506 IDPs from school premises to Bakassi IDPs camp located along Biu-Daboa Road, Maiduguri.

The government had last week commenced the relocation with an initial 600 IDPs from Government Girls Secondary School, Yerwa in Maiduguri were moved to Dalori camps where many families were reunited.

Addressing newsmen on the relocation exercise at Government College, Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Education and SREC Chairman, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo, disclosed that the Bakassi IDPs camp has the basic facilities for large family size, tents, water and security to accommodate and protect the lives of large population of displaced persons.

He said: “I have already addressed the IDPs on their relocation from school premises to a camp at Bakassi Housing Estate. In the camp, there is adequate water supply, there are toilets; and we have also collaborated with the military and other security agencies for a smooth relocation exercise that had been delayed for over two months."

The commissioner however warned that: “Any IDP that wants to exit and stay out of camps, he or she must fill the exit form, indicating that the Borno state government will hands off their resettlements and feeding, before they return to their respective communities."

He said the massive relocation of displaced persons from schools, was to enable government re-open schools that were closed since March 14, 2014 over Boko Haram insurgency in the state.