A total of   1, 934, 765 displaced persons   are currently living in formal camps, and satellite     camps in liberated communities as a result of the insurgency in the north eastern state. According to Saad Bello, the Yola Camp Coordinator in Adamawa State, Borno has 19 camps with 150, 858 IDPs; Yobe has nine camps with 31, 988 IDPs and Adamawa four camps with 6, 937 IDPs.

The Camp Coordinator who spoke on behalf of the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) when the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, visited also added that there were 14 satellite camps in liberated communities, mainly in Borno State with 216, 184 IDPs.

Our main source of worry, however, is the information that the authorities are considering closing some of the camps in the light of the claim that the IDPs are safe to return home since the military have succeeded in liberating and securing their communities from the Boko Haram insurgents. Indeed, a relocation and resettlement programme is reportedly already in progress with the Senate even approving N10 billion for it.

The Senate fund approval was sequel to a motion titled, “Interim Financial and Material Support/Assistance To IDP Returnees In Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States” sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and eight others. Ndume had argued that most of the local government areas and towns hitherto occupied by the insurgents had been recaptured and secured by the Nigerian security forces. On his part, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) anchored his support for the return of the IDPs to their liberated communities on the need for them to participate in the current farming season.

While appreciating the necessity of allowing the IDPs to return home when it is considered safe to do so, we will also advise that caution should be the watch-word, especially in the light of continued reports of our troops repelling attacks by the terrorists. There have been reports of liberated communities being attacked after the security forces left the scene.

We caution that if the IDPs must be returned to their communities, adequate security should be provided until the threat of further attack is completely eliminated. We do not want a return to square one after hastily resettling the displaced persons.

The military and other security agencies should also properly screen all returning IDPs so as to fish out possible terrorists among them. They should also investigate reports of Boko Haram wooing young, impressible persons with money and other incentives as part of its recruitment strategy.

Returnees should immediately be assisted with gainful employment to avoid the dangers of prolonged idleness.