Fed up of waiting, Bama refugees to trek home tomorrow

Internally Displaced Persons of Bama local government, one of the communities worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state, have decided to return home by foot starting tomorrow.

The resolution was reached following an emergency meeting held in Maiduguri on Saturday, September 23 by the Bama Initiative.

The association had formed a committee, led by a former chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Shettima Zannah, to assess the situation back in Bama. Zannah’s committee’s remit included an assessment of the state of refugee camps and ongoing reconstruction work.

The report submitted to the secretariat of the association by the committee on Thursday, September 21, noted that “reconstruction works have reached a level that can guarantee return of IDPs”.

In a widely circulated release to its people, the association on Saturday September 23 called on refugees both in camps and host communities to embark on the journey by foot tomorrow.

“It has been resolved that all sons and daughters of Bama that are affected by the crisis of house rent and IDPs that are in a government recognised camps should come out and relocate to Bama tomorrow by 9:00am so as to occupy the houses that were already constructed by the state government,” spokesperson, Grema Shehu, said.

Grema Shehu, however, failed to mention is whether the Bama Initiative had informed the Borno State Government of its plans, and efforts to contact the state If it is aware, the state government is yet to make any statement regarding the development and neither do relevant security outfits.

Efforts by Daily Times to reach Mohammed Bulama, the commissioner for information in Borno state proved abortive as his phone failed to connect all through today.

Recall that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, had in August said that some local governments in Borno including Bama were safe for return of refugees. In stressing the safety of the towns, Mr. Buratai had said, “I wonder why the IDPs are still living in camps of Maiduguri metropolis.”

The Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, had even earlier threatened to close down IDP camps in Borno in May 2017. September is almost over now, and the camps are still remain open.

Usman Zannah, Borno’s commissioner for LG and Emirate Affairs, rationalised this by saying, “According to Kampala Convention, the Borno state government cannot force an IDP to go back.”

Zannah then said that no less than 350,000 refugees had refused to return home. With Saturday’s decision by the refugees to go home, it remains to be seen what wull come next.