By Sam Kayode
There is a palpable tension among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bama council area of Borno state over the shortage of food ration meant for them.
The development arose from the suspicion that their ration was being shared with repentant insurgents who strayed into their camps after running away from the bush.
This, impeccable sources say, has placed the camp security on red alert especially now that the repentant insurgents seem to be struggling with the little ration left for the registered IDPs.
It is not clear if the repentant insurgents have been housed in separate camps as a matter of standard security practice but our source claim that most of the wives and children of former insurgents now live with the IDPs whose statuses are known to the Borno state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Our source who prefers anonymity said that “the prevalence of hunger in the Bama (IDP) Camp is beyond imagination, despite the fact that every blessed day not less than 50 to 100 captives and repentant Boko Haram fighters come into the town unregulated.
“Over 75 percent of the IDPs are not able to sustain themselves now as a result of this influx of women and children. Those that were taking one to two meals in a day before the Ramadan fast are the lucky ones, because some were not able to eat throughout the day, since there was no food at all.
“There are some people that have spent two to three months in the camp yet they were not registered by the international organization of migration (IOM) or even non governmental organizations (NGOs)
“With regards to the lack of registrations in the part of the international non governmental organizations some pressed IDPs used to enter into the town begging unnecessarily in order to have something to eat and feed their children. Whereas, those unable to trek into the town to beg, are dying of hunger.
“One may not be able to cook his food and leave it for 15 minutes to cool because they will steal same and go eat it. If one is lucky, they may take the food and leave the cooking pots for you but if one is unlucky they may go away with both’, he said.
Our source, who is equally a social worker within the camp, regretted that the Bama IDP Camp is giving managers serious concerns adding that NGOs should come to their aid otherwise many would starve to death after the Ramadan fast when they will be free to eat at anytime.
He hinted that the increasing number of people living in the camp is rising beyond the capability of the agencies of the state government which is why they need help.
On any indication that the IDPs may go on rampage in the town, he went philosophical: “One has nothing to say about this sad development but rather we are praying to our almighty Allah (SWT) to come to our aid and may He also bring total peace to our domain.”
Attempts to contact Yaaba Kolo who is the head of the state emergency management agency was futile as she was said to have traveled out of the country for lesser Hajj.
Published by: metrowatchonline.com
