The food is good… we are not in haste to return home, say IDPs

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Pompomari camp in Damaturu, Yobe state, say they are not in a haste to return to their communities liberated from Boko Haram insurgents.

Some of them who spoke to NAN on Monday said life in the camp was far better than what obtained in their villages.

“We have been enjoying three-square meal in the camp provided by State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) since our arrival in 2015; we also have clinic and school here,” Bukar Makinta, an occupant of the camp, said.

Another occupant, Modu Kaka, said they were fed with beans, spaghetti, rice and Semovita, among other delicacies.

“SEMA provides adequate foodstuff and women IDPs prepare the meals for all the IDPs in the camp who eat and even make surplus,” one said.

Bulama Shefuri, an elder in the camp, said women IDPs had engaged in animal fattening using leftover of food to feed the animals.

“They collect the food remnants and you can see the crumbs spread all over in the sun to dry up to feed goats and sheep,” Bulama said.

The IDPs said they had better food, school, healthcare and security in the camp.

Musa Jidawa, executive secretary of SEMA, said government had been feeding the IDPs since the camp was established in 2015.

“Government had consistently been feeding 4,000 IDPs at the Pompomari camp and 3,000 others at the Bukar Ali primary school camp,” he said.

“However, those at Bukar Ali camp willingly requested to return to their communities and the camp was closed down, while, we now have over 2,000 IDPs at the Pompomari camp as some of them have also left.”

He confirmed that the IDPs were well fed.

“We also slaughter cows to provide them with meat,” Jidawa said.