Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, was spotted at the presidential villa on Wednesday, days after the emergence of reports of acute malnutrition inside the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Bama, 75km from Maiduguri.
After gaining access to the camp last week, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, released photos of acutely malnourished children, plus a statement revealing that about 24,000 IDPs in Bama were in ill-health, with at least 30 people, mostly children, dying every day.
It was a report that angered President Muhammadu Buhari, who has asked questions on what has become of funds from the federal government, donor agencies and philanthropists., especially as there have also been allegations of private diversion of foodstuff and other relief materials meant for displaced persons in Borno.
During his trip to the villa, Shettima declined to speak with state house correspondents as he emerged from the office of Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, simply saying “this was a private visit” despite being accompanied by officials of the state.
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After earlier visiting the Bama IDP camp, Shettima had said that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were taking advantage of the displaced persons.
He ordered the relocation of 61 children with acute condition of malnutrition to the intensive care unit of the Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital in Maiduguri, where they are receiving treatment.
Another set of over 400 persons with lesser cases of malnourishment were also moved out of the camp to a special care unit for proper feeding and medication.
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