Borno builds houses for Bama returnees

Work is in progress on 100-housing units in Bama town in Borno State as part of efforts by the Borno State government to rebuild destroyed communities and resettle displaced persons in various IDP camps in Maiduguri metropolis, Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday.

He was speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri on the progress of work being carried by the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement which he recently created to rebuild the destroyed communities.

The governor said his state was ‘the most hit’ of Boko Haram insurgency compared to the two neighbouring states of Adamawa and Yobe, and had to resettle over 20 per cent of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-east.

He said in Borno alone, there were 20 local government areas destroyed by Boko Haram, compared to four and two councils in Adamawa and Yobe States.

“In terms of scope and extent, some communities were completely razed down by this madness of Boko Haram insurgents in over five years. In the whole of Gwoza LGA, believe me, not a single town or village was spared while from Bama there are over 400,000 people displaced and currently taking refuge in Maiduguri. In the North-east, there are 3 to 4 million refugees, while nearly 80 per cent of displaced persons are from Borno State,” Shettima said.

He lamented placing Borno on the same pedestal with Adamawa and Yobe on insurgency devastation and loss of lives and property.

“I believe we deserve special treatment and we have to commend President Muhammadu Buhari because he has shown passion for the re-charge of the Lake Chad on which over 30 million people rely for their livelihood and sustenance.

“Believe me, this madness will immediately evaporate when the Lake Chad is fully recharged to engage the people in productive ventures,” he added.