Nigeria shuts down six IDPs camps in NE state

The Nigerian government on Thursday confirmed that it had closed down six Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the northeast state of Adamawa, following the return of the inmates to their homes.

More than 95 percent of the 90,000 IDPs in the ten camps operated by the agency, had returned home, Sa'ad Bello, a state coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told reporters in Yola, the state capital.

He listed the camps which were closed down to include those located in Bekaji, Kwanan Waya, Girei 1 and 2, Yola campus of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and EYN Church.

Bello said the IDPs decided to return to their various towns and villages after the enormous successes recorded by the military in reclaiming and restoring peace to areas under Boko Haram insurgents.

The NEMA official told reporters that the camps began decreasing following the enormous victory recorded by Nigerian Army in defeating Boko Haram and reclaiming all captured areas in Adamawa.

According to him, almost 95 percent of the Internally Displaced Persons living in ten designated camps in the state have returned to their respective villages and towns.

Bello said the agency found it necessary to close down six out of the ten camps in the state, noting that the remaining four camps are now sheltering less than 10,000 IDPs.

He said latest population data matrix analysis showed that there were still about 100,000 IDPs living within communities in the state.

Bello said the agency was now focusing its attention in preparing those returning home, to pick up the pieces of their lives and make the best of the situation they find themselves. Endit