The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has bemoaned the abandonment of 4,723 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at various locations in Taraba State in northeast Nigeria.
It says the situation is highly deplorable and requires urgent attention.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe, made the request over the weekend while addressing reporters during an official visit to Taraba State in continuation of his tour of the north eastern States to assess the state of camps and facilities hosting IDPs.
Professor Angwe pointed out that despite the fact that most of the IDPS had spent well over two years in their settlements, neither the government nor relevant agencies showed concern about their plights.
At Gullong, one of the settlements with over 259 IDPS, the NHRC boss observed that there were no foodstuffs, mattresses, provision of security or medical facilities for the displaced persons and their children.
The children were roaming about without any form of education programme, a statement by a spokesman for the NHRC, Lambert Oparah, read.
“The government of Taraba State and indeed relevant agencies have obligations and responsibilities to protect and provide for these people because they are Nigerian citizens.
“Things cannot be allowed to continue this way,”Professor Angwe stressed.
He further called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to help the IDPs while he promised to liaise with Presidential Initiatives on IDPs to intervene and bring succour to the IDPs.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Taraba, Nugalga Dan-Habu, told reporters that the state Government was not aware of the presence of the IDPS whom he said integrated themselves with their host communities.
He promised to intimate the Governor about the issue.
The leader of the Gullong IDPS settlement, Emmanuel Bulus, while conducting the Executive Secretary and NEMA Inspection Team round the centre said that apart from NGOs and some Faith-Based organisations that support them, the IDPS in the Camp had remained on their own.
He said they had not witnessed any government support or presence.
Professor Angwe promised to return to Taraba State to see whether there has been any positive action taken to redress the situation.
Over two million people have been displaced from their communities in northeast Nigeria as a result of insurgency by members of Boko Haram terrorist group.
The Nigerian Armed Forces have continued counter-terrorism operations in the region in an attempt to contain the activities of the group attempting to establish an Islamic State and also put an end to Western education.
