President urged to resettle 91,007 Gwoza refugees, IDPs

Stakeholders operating under the umbrella of the Concerned Citizens of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find lasting solutions for the displaced people of Gwoza. At a media briefing in Abuja, they sought to bring national attention to the ongoing suffering of their people-refugees, internally displaced […]

Stakeholders operating under the umbrella of the Concerned Citizens of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find lasting solutions for the displaced people of Gwoza.

At a media briefing in Abuja, they sought to bring national attention to the ongoing suffering of their people-refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and those who have been abducted. These individuals have been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2013.

The group’s spokesperson, Dr. Ayuba John Bassa, said 91,007 people from Gwoza have been forced to flee their homes by Boko Haram and are now displaced across Nigeria and Cameroon. He added that over 50,000 of these individuals are living with relatives nationwide, where prolonged displacement has become a source of vulnerability and a heavy burden.

Bassa also noted that approximately 550 refugees in a Cameroonian camp have been effectively abandoned, and many who attempted to return to Nigeria on foot have died or endured extreme hardship along the way.

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The stakeholders urged the president to restore the homes, children, and dignity of these displaced people. They requested the transparent release of resources budgeted for this purpose, ensuring that repatriation and resettlement are carried out with accountability and justice for those who have been unlawfully detained.

The group also asked the president to direct the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and other relevant bodies to coordinate a comprehensive and diligent repatriation, resettlement, and recovery program.

They further demanded that this process be conducted with the full participation of the beneficiaries and include provisions for shelter, livelihood support, healthcare, education, and psychosocial services. “We call on the federal government and all relevant agencies to act without further delay to restore dignity, deliver justice, and ensure durable solutions for the displaced of Gwoza,” Bassa said.

Additionally, the stakeholders emphasized the need for a military battalion and barracks in Gwoza East to prevent insurgents from regrouping. They expressed their willingness to engage with the presidency, relevant ministries, agencies, development partners, and civil society to provide more information and coordinate efforts.