Yobe State Government has closed down the last Internally Displaced Persons Camp, ‘Popomari IDP Camp’ in the state.
Located at a primary school in Pompomari within Damaturu metropolis, the camp initially had a population of 4, 211 people at the time it was established but the population was reduced to 1,314 after over 2,897 voluntarily left the camp to pursue their livelihoods.
The Permanent Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Idi Musa Jidawa at the closing ceremony said the people voluntarily wrote to government to vacate the camp and return back to their communities.
The Yobe SEMA boss also disclosed that the State government has expended over N140 million for the establishment and take off of the camp, feeding and medical treatment of the IDPs at the camp since its establishment.
He announced that the state government earmarked for the distribution of 743 bags of 50kg rice, 596 jerry cans of 25 litres vegetable oil, 541 cartons of tomato paste, 370 cartoons of bathing soap, 1000 pieces of mosquito nets, 1,272 pieces of nylon mats, 60 bales of used clothes and a cash assistance of N9, 110, 00 million to the 318 heads of household depending on family size.
He also disclosed that a total of 42 marriages were contracted within the period in the camp with a total of 195 healthy babies born with 26 dead.
Investigation however revealed most of the returning are not returning back to their ancestral communities as the security situation in the areas have not improved but have rather chosen to stay wherever they wanted.
The returnees are mostly from Gujba Local Government from different communities like, Ambiya Kura, Ambiya Bulabullin, Ambiya Tasha, Sharfuri, Shangamari and Turo Kura.
