Zulum plans IDPs’ return to homes, donates 10 surveillance vehicles to military

In his effort to see that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees return to their ancestral homes, particularly in Abadam Local Government in the northern part of Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum has taken steps to ensure smooth relocation of willing members of communities living on the hot bed of insurgency.

Hundreds of communities in Abadam had fled their homes since 2014 with some finding refuge in Niger Republic.

In his plan, Zulum also approved the donation of 10 patrol vehicles for the military to aid their surveillance and logistics in the ongoing clearance operations on fringes of Lake Chad in northeast Nigeria.

The approval for the donation of the vehicles came as a result of the governor’s interaction with the commanding officer of the 68 Battalion in Malam-Fatori, headquarters of Abadam.

Zulum decided to visit Assam Local Government, which was abandoned for seven years since Islamic State for West African Province took control of the area, displacing hundreds of residents.

The residents, who are taking refuge in Diffa and Boso in Niger Republic, had expressed fear over returning home as the area had been in ruins since they left. But the governor has assured them of returning to a good home and peaceful environment.

He equally directed the State Rural Water Supply Agency to drill deep aquifer boreholes within the military barracks, to address problems of access to water supply faced by the soldiers as well as for the expected returnees.

Addressing the troops, Professor Zulum commended their commitment and encouraged them to be steadfast in their efforts to clear remnants of the insurgents hibernating around Malam- Fatori in order to give residents who are planning to return the confidence they need.

Zulum, who took time to assess infrastructure destroyed by insurgents in the town, assured that reconstruction work would commence before December.