Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; has called on Boko Haram to sheathe swords of war to return 1.76 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to communities. According to him, insurgents’ lay down of arms, could expedite return of IDPs, after taking refuge in camps for over a decade. Zulum made the call Thursday, while addressing 2,800 IDP returnees at Ajiri village of Mafa Local Government Area of the state. “You’re laying down arms for peace to reign in our dear state and the country at large. “The state government is also doing everything possible to return all displaced persons to their ancestral homes,” he said. He said that the passionate thing insurgents should know is that IDPs; who have returned or willing to do so; are directly or indirectly their parents or relations. He said the IDPs in camps and host communities, are eager what he described as; “To pick up their pieces and continue their normal lives in rebuilt communities destroyed by insurgents.” Meanwhile, he said that besides Ajiri village, 580 IDPs along with 80 households have also been returned to Auno community. According to him, State Government will do everything possible to ensure all returnees live a comfortable life in their respective communities. He directed the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Mustapha Gubio to provide a standby generator to compliment solar-powered borehole to meet returnees’ portable water. While assessing Ajiri community, since its return, he said: “I am happy to see you people living comfortably after your relocation from IDP camps to your ancestral homes. “As Government we will do everything possible to support you. “We are going to provide this community with a befitting school, hospital and market stalls among other infrastructural facilities.” “I am appealing to all of you to continue pray for the restoration of peace and cooperate with the security agencies in the fight against terrorism.”
