Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Gwoza in north-east Nigeria, who relocated to Abuja, the nation’s capital, are excited about the re-capture of communities in parts of the north-east, but are also concerned that the Boko Haram extremist might return.
To enable them return to their communities, they are asking the government to put measures in place to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists will not return to their communities.
They made the request on Sunday when Channels Television’s correspondent, Amaka Okafor, visited the IDPs camp in Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory.
“Not much has changed at the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp. The make shift houses have poor sanitary conditions and lack basic amenities,” she said.
However, more of their worries are the chances of renewed attack if they returned home.
They are seeking government’s assurance that arms and ammunitions would be mopped up in the areas and that soldiers and other security agencies would remain in the communities for at least six-months after re-capturing the territories controlled by the Boko Haram sect.
That way they would be happy to return home, they said.
For others, however, their return will depend on first-hand information from their relations, before they can make that move
One thing is certain, they are tired of their condition of living in the camp and are no doubt ready to return home, but they want the Federal Government to do more than recapture their communities by ensuring the security of lives and properties before they can return home.
Boko Haram Terrorists Drowned
Nigeria’s military has increased the tempo of the counter-terrorism operations in the north-east, with the support of troops from other countries bordering Nigeria in the region.
A spokesman for the military said on sunday that a large number of Boko Haram terrorists drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force.
In a statement, Major General Chris Olukolade said the insurgents had buried land mines in over 1,500 spots on the routes leading to the town.
He said all the landmines were skillfully cleared one after the other.
“The mining of the grounds could not save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops.
“A large number of terrorists have drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force heralding the advance of Nigerian troops on mission to flush them out of Baga.
“Not even the strategy of over 1,500 spots with landmines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops,” he said.
Since the attack on communities in the north-east by the terrorist group began over five years ago, over 600, 000 person have been displaced, with some running to neighbouring countries for refuge.
