In continuation of the ongoing relocation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from public schools to camps in Borno state, the State’s Relocation Committee (SREC) on Monday commenced the evacuation and transportation of 4, 506 Displaced Persons to Bakassi camp in Maiduguri metropolis.
The relocation exercise, which commences around 8am was coordinated by the military and other security agencies amid tight security.
Addressing newsmen on Monday at the Government College, Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo, who doubles as SREC Chairman, disclosed that the Bakassi camp has the basic facilities for family size tents, water and security to accommodate and protect lives of the 4,500 displaced persons from the college.
He said that the Relocation Committee was satisfied with the IDPs’ willingness to be relocated from the college to Bakkasi camp on Damboa road.
His words: “I have already addressed the IDPs on their relocation from this college to a camp at Bakkasi 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.
“So with these facilities in place at Bakassi and security of displaced persons, there is going to be no problem.”
He, however, said that before any IDP boards the bus to camp, he should register with his or her name, family members and wives if there is any to join them and resettle in the family size tent of eight persons.
On complaints of lack of trees and shades, he said: “Those that are complaining of lack of trees to provide shades, are not fair to the Borno state government and this committee. You see, Bakkasi camp, is part of the terrain of Maiduguri metropolis. It is not deliberately a place that has no trees.
“This is not true. Moreover, the family size tents in camps have optimal weather conditions. So, the IDPs’ fears on the place or camp being very hot shouldn’t be there at all. The living condition at Bakassi housing estate is such that people will be comfortable.”
Speaking on the relocation of IDPs to Kubo, he said: “Here, we have about 4, 500 displaced persons. This college turned into camp has the highest number, but I want to assure you that we have shelter for them,” adding that immediately the relocation exercise was completed, the closed schools will be reopened by government.
“Immediately we complete this relocation exercise of displaced persons to camps, then the schools will have one week to put things in place and thereafter, we resume. You can agree with me, so many things have been vandlised in the public schools. The toilets have to be evacuated. We have to fumigate and sanitize the environment before we call the students to come and avoid any outbreak of an epidemic,” assured the commissioner.
He, however, warned: “Any IDP that wants to exit and stay out of camps, has to fill the exit form.
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.
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