Property Worth N7.3bn Lost to Boko Haram Insurgency, Says Adamawa Govt

The Adamawa State Government yesterday, after its assessment, said property worth N7.3 billion had been destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in five local government areas of the state during their reign in the affected areas.

The state Governor, Bala James Nggilari, disclosed this at a multi stakeholders meeting on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Return Process in the state organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in conjunction with the state Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA).

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Ibrahim Welye, said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to provide a roadmap for the safe return of the IDPs.

He disclosed that the meeting was also held to avail them the opportunity to brainstorm in view of the enormous challenges it entailed in rehabilitating and safe returning of the IDPs, adding that in view of the fact that the IDPs lost everything to the onslaught of the insurgents, there was need to take their plight seriously.

Welye noted that although seven local government areas of the state were affected by the Boko Haram onslaughts, the tentative estimate of destruction of property in of five local government areas was N7.3 billion.

However, the SSG revealed that the state government was still compiling that of the two local government areas of the state, pledging that the state government would look forward to using the roadmap for safely return of the IDPs.

The Director- General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammadu S. Sidi, in a statement at the occasion, said the agency had to organise the stakeholders’ meeting in view of the spontaneous and uncoordinated movement of the IDPs back to their communities as a result of the relative peace gradually returning to their areas.