Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced the resettlement of 6,000 families displaced by Boko Haram insurgency from the Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas.
The governor made the announcement on Monday during a visit to the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The Muna camp, one of the largest in the state, currently shelters about 11,000 families.
Gov. Zulum highlighted the urgent need for resettlement, citing a surge in criminal activities within the camp, including prostitution, gang violence, and child abuse.
“Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement taking place. People have to return to their homes and earn their livelihoods,” Gov. Zulum told journalists.
The governor recalled that the state had earlier committed to closing all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri, stating that 12 have been shut so far.
“We have resettled about 75 percent of the IDPs here at Muna camp. The remaining 25 percent will return to their ancestral homes in the coming days,” he added.
Under the new resettlement initiative, each of the 6,000 families will receive food supplies, building materials, and access to healthcare.
Heads of both male and female households will also receive N100,000, with an additional N50,000 allocated specifically to housewives.
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In a related development, Gov. Zulum also visited the Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional Facility, where he announced plans to upgrade the centre’s vocational and skills training facilities.
The initiative aims to enhance rehabilitation and reduce the likelihood of reoffending among inmates.
“The purpose of incarceration is not merely to punish, but to reform. Without proper facilities, rehabilitation is impossible,” Gov. Zulum said during the visit.
He further stated that the state government will assess the cases of inmates convicted of minor offences to explore possible release options within legal boundaries.
The initiatives are said to be part of ongoing efforts by the Borno State government to address the long-term humanitarian and security challenges caused by over a decade of insurgency.
