IDPs Attack Humanitarian Workers, Destroy Cars in Borno

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) yesterday descended on humanitarian workers in Maiduguri, injuring many people. Daily Trust on Sunday also gathered that the displaced persons destroyed five Lexus Jeeps.

The incident occurred at the Gubio IDP camp in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the monthly distribution of relief items by a non-governmental organization, the International Medical Corp.

It was gathered that when the group commenced distribution of the items, the IDP rejected the rations, saying that it was too small. Witnesses said the displaced persons then started hurling stones at the staff.

A witness, Ali Umar, who spoke to our correspondent said, “they started with ‘Ba muso, Ba muso’ meaning (we don’t want) before we realized what was happening, they started throwing stones at their vehicles. Five cars were destroyed. Soldiers attached to the camp made efforts to calm the situation, but they did not succeed”.

A displaced person at the camp, Bulama Gubio, told Daily Trust on Sunday that they had been without food for sometime.

“We have been starving for the past one month and nobody came here to share or distribute food. And when they came, they reduced the rations; instead of three per family, they gave us two. What we got was not enough so our wives protested and the children started throwing stones at them. I was personally against the attack,” Gubio said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Damuli Investment Company, Liman Alhaji Diban, a car vendor condemned the attack on the humanitarian workers.

“It is really sad. It is unfortunate that people who came here to assist had to under-go such. Our people need enlightenment, because it not a right but a privilege,” Liman said.

All efforts to get comments from the Communications Officer of IMC proved abortive.