Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed the prompt shutdown of the IDP camp located in Bama, which stands as the state’s primary displacement facility outside of Maiduguri. During a Thursday visit to the Government Secondary School IDP site in Gwoza, the governor stated that this facility is also slated for closure within several weeks as part of a broader resettlement initiative.
Governor Zulum attributed this decision to the improved security situation in regions once controlled by Boko Haram. Over the last seven years, the administration has facilitated the return of residents to numerous areas, such as Banki, Kirawa, and Ngoshe. The governor voiced alarm regarding emerging criminal activity within the camps, warning that they are becoming susceptible to infiltration by Boko Haram and ISWAP members. He emphasized that screening efforts will continue to ensure individuals are returned to their proper communities.
Furthermore, the governor addressed the issue of residents abandoning their homes to return to camps specifically to collect aid from humanitarian groups. He noted that the population at the Gwoza facility surged from fewer than 400 households to nearly 3,000 in just one year, despite many of those people already having established homes in town. Zulum confirmed that the state government remains committed to phasing out these camps to foster long-term recovery and ensure that returns to local communities are both dignified and sustainable.
