Banditry: How lack of camps worsens plight of displaced persons

Thousands of people displaced by banditry in the North West and parts of North Central over the years have lost their bearings,

Thousands of people displaced by banditry in the North West and parts of North Central over the years have lost their bearings, and therefore, increasingly having difficulty living a normal life, Daily Trust Saturday reports.

Despite years of uncertainty, killings, maiming and complete obstruction of normal life, most of the frontline states in the North-West and parts of the North-Central lack organised camps for multitude of people dislodged by terrorists, bandits and other criminals.

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Unlike Borno and Adamawa states in the North-East that established camps for internally displaced people for easy management of the situation, which has attracted international attention in form of support, the humanitarian crises in the North West and parts of the North Central have remained problematic.

Although some of the states have identified what could easily be described as “glorified displaced persons camps,” others are still living in denial for political and other reasons.

In most cases, it was the displaced people who turned any available structure to a camp and live for years without access to basic privileges of life and modest food, water, health centres and schools for their children.

Experts believe that an angry generation has been created by the powers-that-be, saying that if a deliberate effort is not put in place to take the record of displaced people and their children for the purpose of tackling the challenges confronting them, it is a matter of time before they become another problem for the system.

“Without a clearly defined camp, it will be difficult for serious donors from abroad to intervene,” Usman Aliyu, who works in one of the international humanitarian organisations, said.

“Political leaders must bury their pride, accept that there is a serious problem and make deliberate efforts to address them. Nobody likes displaced persons camps, but they are necessary when you have challenges like the one in the North West and parts of the North Central. The problems are similar to what we have in the North-East, but as you can see, the camps are gradually fizzling out there,” he said.

 

Voices from the wilderness

“It is 12pm but I have not eaten breakfast,” said Yahaya Dogo, who is now living in a so called displaced persons camp with his wife and four children at the Central Primary School, Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sitting beside five other men on an exposed root of a tall neem tree that provides shade for a number of men in the camp, Dogo, told Daily Trust Saturday that he had lived there for three years. The 45-year-old farmer and his family are among thousands of displaced persons facing hunger and other hardship in several camps across the state.

“I lost my farms and don’t have money to buy food for my family. We rely on support from people. Sometimes we wake up at night and cry. We have lost hope; government has abandoned us for bandits,” he said.

Over 500 kilometres from Dogo, Amina Yunusa from Tsululu village in Sabon Birni Local Government of Sokoto State is faced with the same dilemma and described life as a displaced person as terrible. “There is no shelter, no food, no toilet and clothing,” she lamented.

The mother of 10 said, “We largely depend on street begging and the little assistance given by individuals. We do not have toilets, we find a quiet place around, especially in the night to ease ourselves or take a bath when the children are asleep.”

According to the International Displacement Monitoring Centre (iDMc), about 2.7million Nigerians were displaced as at December 2020 due to conflict and violence. The country has the third highest number of internally displaced persons in Africa, with the highest figures in the northern part of the country.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that lack of well-coordinated camps established and monitored by government, as well as the absence of coherent data, is worsening the plight of these displaced persons and thwarting opportunities to attract support from humanitarian donor organisations and government agencies.

In Sokoto, displaced persons live in makeshift tents

Thousands of residents displaced by bandits have been living in makeshift tents and schools, while many others are squatting with relatives despite the existence of three officially recognised camps in Sokoto State. The camps include those at Ghandi, Rabah Local Government Area, Goronyo in Goronyo Local Government and the women centre in the state’s metropolis.

The Ghandi camp used to be a primary school before it was converted for displaced people after the Tabanni attacks in 2019, while the Goronyo camp was made up of detached houses initially built to resettle victims of the 2010 flood disaster in the area.

Our correspondent learnt that the Women Development Centre along the Sultan Dasuki Road is the only designated camp for displaced persons in the metropolis. However, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the camp was not recognised.

According to the official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, there are 4,711 camps across the state as at October 2021. This is, however, as over 50,000 displaced persons are said to be currently taking refuge in neighbouring Niger Republic, a figure the state government has faulted.

The director of relief and rehabilitation in the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Umar Mustapha, confirmed that some displaced residents were still taking refuge in Niger Republic. He also said there were many displaced persons, majority of them women, living in makeshift tents at Ramin Kura, along the Usmanu Danfodiyo University main campus road.

“Some of these displaced persons are from Katsina, Zamfara and the eastern parts of Sokoto State. We also have some living in rented places with their families,” he said.

Musa Muhammad, a vigilante leader in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state said over 30 communities in the area had been displaced in the last one year. Among the communities are Hankali, Dogon Market, Dandurmi, Dabugi, Borawa and Gidan Ayya.

Muhammad, who is fondly called Blacky, said some of the residents were taking refuge at Sululu and Basira in Maradi State of Niger Republic, while others were either living in schools in Sabon Birni or with relatives in the state metropolis. He said that the last time the government sent relief materials to them, some only got a measure of grain.

Umar Mustapha also said the agency only provided basic amenities to the displaced persons in officially recognised camps, such as those at Ghandi and Goronyo.

“If there is any support for displaced persons, we make sure it reaches those living in host communities through their leaders,” he said.

Not recognised by government, humanitarian workers

There are about 1,000 displaced persons, mainly women and children taking refuge on a 100-by-75 plot of land that has been converted into a camp at the Kasuwar Ramin-Kura area of Sokoto metropolis, yet they are not recognised by government and humanitarian workers.

With 11 makeshift tents built with old roofing sheets to accommodate between 25 and 30 persons in a room, the temporary camp, constructed by a philanthropist and businessman, Alhaji Muhammad Auwal, lacks toilet facilities. Speaking with our correspondent, Malama Binta Muhammad, leader of the displaced persons, said other camp occupants usually slept in open spaces on local mats and tents. She said some had fled from Doron Baga, Malam Fatori in Borno State, Unguwar Lalle, Illela, Goronyo and Sobon Birni in Sokoto State and some villages in Katsina, Zamfara and Adamawa states.

“We have about 200 children in the camp, but they only go to Qur’anic schools. Few of us live with our husbands, while majority are either widowed or divorced,” she said.

Aisha Muhammad, who came from Baga in Kuka Local Government Area of Borno State, said neither Borno nor Sokoto government recognises them as displaced persons.

She said that in the last six years, no government official from the two states had visited them, adding that they only received support from individuals and some non-governmental organisations.

“Some of us beg to feed our children, while others sell food at the abattoir for a living,” she said.

Also, Aisha Usman from Faci in Sobon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State said that when bandits attacked their village, a child was killed while her husband, who was traumatised, went missing.

The director-general of Sokoto SEMA, Nasiru Alhaji Ali, said their camp was not recognised although government provided aids to them.

He said the state also accommodated displaced persons from seven states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno and Niger.

“The Sokoto State Government is taking good care of displaced persons, in terms of feeding, clothing, shelter and medical treatment. Government has provided a befitting accommodation for them in the affected local governments. Government recently provided 12 trucks of food items to be delivered to them in Niger Republic,” he said.

Lack of camps compound woes of Zamfara

In Zamfara State, displaced persons who fled deadly attacks on their villages are taking shelter in makeshift structures, schools, and in some cases, houses of acquaintances. There are no officially recognised camps as displaced persons are scattered all over the state. This is even as the state government said Zamfara was home to over 600,000 victims, including women and children.

Our correspondents report that the nonexistence of such camps is undercutting the ability of the authorities and donor organisations in reaching the displaced persons with assistance.

In recent times, there have been growing calls by civil society organisations for state governments to channel resources to the establishment and running of internally displaced camps in Zamfara State.

Displaced persons in the state are found in Sabon Gida in Gusau suburbs and the Tsunami area in Gusau, secretariats and many uncompleted buildings across the affected local government areas. They fend for themselves, largely through begging and menial jobs. Some residents who accommodate them say it is tasking, especially with the increasing cost of living in the country.

“I have been accommodating two families in my house. I gave them a portion of my house to live in the last five months. Initially, I shared my food with them, but when the burden became high and seemingly difficult for me to shoulder, I asked the head of the families to find some jobs to do,” Aliyu Hussaini, a resident of Sabon Gida in Gusau suburbs said.

Although the federal government, in collaboration with the Zamfara State Government, has made large donations of relief items to the displaced persons, it has been inadequate.

A non-governmental organisation, Zamfara Circle, had in recent times catered for the displaced persons, but such donations, our correspondent gathered, could not reach a good number of them because there are no known recognised camps.

In the same vein, a resident of Bungudu Local Government Area, Abdullahi Abubakar, said he left his uncompleted building for displaced persons for the last seven months.

“I had to suspend the project. Sometimes I feel like asking them to vacate, but I would have a change of heart and imagine the hardship they would have to go through. I also wonder how they cope with extreme cold because the building doesn’t have doors and windows,” Abubakar said.

One of the displaced persons with two wives and eight children said life had been difficult for them. He said his children were into hawking while he and his wives did menial jobs.

“We were displaced from Karal in Gusau Local Government Area, and since then, we have been facing difficulty in bringing up our children in an environment completely different from ours,” he said.

In Kaduna, displaced persons occupy uncompleted buildings  

Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Birnin Gwari have become Kaduna’s frontline local government areas where the activities of bandits led to the killing of hundreds and displacement of thousands. Giwa Local Government Area shares boundaries with Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Chikun and Zaria local government areas, which explains how bandits and displaced residents are able to crisscross.

In January 2022, over 30 villagers were abducted, with hundreds displaced from Idasu, Kaya, Kerawa, Rahiya and many other communities within Giwa Local Government Area.

Most of the displaced persons are now ‘melting’ into communities in Giwa and Zaria towns. A resident of Giwa town, Kasimu Umaru told Daily Trust Saturday that displaced persons take refuge in uncompleted buildings located in an area known as Sabon Abuja at the outskirts of Giwa town.

Our correspondents gathered that families are crammed in single rooms of uncompleted buildings that have no windows, doors and toilets.

“They use sacks to cover the windows and doors and dig the soil to use as toilets,” one of our sources who identified himself as Umaru said.

In Birnin Gwari, many of the displaced persons are melting into more fortified towns, such as Dogon Dawa, Birnin Gwari and Zaria towns. They live among friends and relatives.

The head of the Internally Displaced Persons Committee in the local government area, Abdulkadir Isa Dankasa, told Daily Trust Saturday that there were an estimated 10,000 victims in the local government area, adding that virtually all the surrounding villages had been hit by banditry.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Kaduna had 89,629 displaced persons as at January 2021.

Muhammadu Rahiya, who fled Rahiya village in Giwa Local Government Area, said his family now rented a room in Giwa town and had been given relief materials, such as blankets, rice and other items by the local government authority after the January 2022 attack. He, however, said the relief materials were grossly inadequate.

Our correspondents report that many displaced persons from Kaduna’s Chikun, as well as Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State are taking refuge among relatives in Udawa community in Chikun, as well as Udawa, which shares boundaries with Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, which has continued to witness an influx of displaced people, according to a community leader, Mughammadu Umaru.

Nuhu Kwapa, who fled Mazadu village in Shiroro and now lives in Udawa, said they were displaced by bandits two months ago. The middle-aged man with three wives and 20 children said their lands and farm produce had been confiscated by bandits. “We are now here (Udawa) with my family, including our village head,” he said.

The leader of Udawa community, Muhammadu Umaru, said they accommodated displaced persons from about 15 villages and four wards of Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.

A displaced housewife and mother of 10, Jubita Yahaya, who fled Kaguru village in Sabon Udawa of Chikun Local Government said, “The children don’t go to school because we are more concerned about feeding them. We hope the government or individuals can reach us with aid.”

No designated camps in Katsina

In Katsina State, there are no government designated displaced persons camps though there are still a sizable number of them from various towns and villages following increasing hostilities of bandits. Most of those displaced are taking refuge among relatives and friends, while others are in ‘unofficial’ camps, particularly in the cities.

Recently, there was a major attack at Illela and surrounding villages in Safana Local Government Area, where thousands fled to places like Safana town, Batsari, Jibia and Katsina city. However, a resident of Illela, who pleaded anonymity, said majority of the residents had returned to their communities in the last few days.

A community leader in Batsari confirmed that majority of the displaced persons had returned home, pointing at problems associated with the lack of designated camps for victims of attacks.

Our correspondent reports that lack of camps has compounded the plight of displaced persons in the state, with many of them resorting to street begging for food. In the metropolis, a business mogul, Dahiru Mangal and the district head of Kusada, Alhaji Nuhu Yashe, are among individuals who feed displaced persons in large numbers.

Explaining the reason for the lack of designated camps in the state, the Katsina State Government argued that it had official camps in five local government areas, but government had moved the displaced persons as security challenges de-escalated.

The commissioner for sports and welfare development in the state, Alhaji Sani Danlami, said the designated camps were in Faskari, Batsari, Jibia, Dandume and Batagarawa local government areas, but added that government closed the camps when the security challenges subsided and displaced persons were returned home.

“Currently, we don’t have any designated camp, but that does not mean we don’t have people displaced. In most cases, these people take refuge either with their relatives or district heads, like the case in Batsari. The government, on its part, gives food support to people who accommodate the displaced persons.

“Our problem was that there were some criminals hiding to commit crimes under the camps. That was why we closed them. But with the level of attacks recently, I will take up the issue with the governor,” the commissioner said.

One of the women taking refuge in Katsina metropolis, Malama Ramla Sani from Batsari Local Government Area, said some of the displaced women lost their husbands and male relatives, leaving them at the mercy of others.

“Our villages are not safe. We cannot go back and risk our lives; that is why we are hanging around. 

“Sometimes we are harassed, but people fail to understand that it is not our wish to be in this kind of condition. It may be true that some of us are mere beggars and not victims of banditry, but as far as I know, all the women and children we live with are victims,” she said.

Despite 27 camps, displaced persons lament negligence in Niger

A pregnant Hafsat Abubakar, who is taking refuge at the Central Primary School, Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, said there was no access to medical facility, food and water in the camp.

“We want the government to wipe our tears. We cry day and night, and our children are finding it difficult to cope in this environment,” Hafsat said.

For many years, Niger State has suffered a series of banditry attacks that have displaced thousands of villagers in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Paikoro local government areas in the eastern part of the state, as well as Kontagora, Mashegu, Mariga, Magama and Rijau in the northern part.

The displaced persons, who now live in temporary camps, mostly primary and secondary schools, lament the almost none existence of food and water. Other displaced residents in Kontagora, Kampanin-Bobi, who live with relatives outside government-designated temporary camps, face similar challenges.

Daily Trust Saturday found that there are at least 27 government recognised camps. The state government has confirmed that at least 151,380 villagers from over 30 communities in 14 local government areas had been displaced in the last two years. However, according to the secretary to Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, this figure does not include those who are seeking refuge among relatives in nearby towns and villages.

Speaking, the president of Lakpma Youth Assembly, an association of youths founded in the wake of banditry in Shiroro, Jibrin Abdullahi Allawa, said most of the displaced women and children were emotionally unstable.

“Some of them were forced to run. Six pregnant women have given birth prematurely, out of which two were admitted in the hospital and four managed in the camps in Zumba, Shiroro,” he said.

Allawa said the displaced persons relied heavily on donations from individuals, adding that there hasn’t been much presence of non-governmental organisations to ameliorate their plight.

“Once in a while, government supports the people that are in the approved primary schools. We also get support from individual politicians, especially the provision of food,” he added.

The secretary, Niger State Vigilante Corps, Shiroro Local Government, Ayuba Dako said, “It is only the Victims Support Fund (VSF) that has been helping us. The most current displaced persons in the camp have not been captured to benefit from the items provided by the VSF.”

Habibu Musa, the desk officer of displaced people’s camps in Gwada, Shiroro Local Government, told our correspondent that the population had continued to surge in the last few weeks due to renewed attacks on more communities.

“It is a terrible situation. We have a lot of influx of displaced persons that have been attacked in the last few days. Many people sleep outside in the harsh weather because the classrooms cannot contain them. In the Central Primary School, Gwada alone, based on our last head count, we have 3,460 people,” he said. 

This story is supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

Lami Sadiq, Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna), Abubakar Auwal, Yusha’u A. Ibrahim (Sokoto), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Shehu Umar (Gusau) & Tijjani Ibrahim, Katsina