Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has resettled 5,200 displaced persons, comprising of 750 households, at Kawuri Community in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.
The governor disclosed this during the return of the previously displaced persons at the outskirt of Maiduguri.
Mr Zulum said that the exercise was part of the continued efforts of the state government to resettle all displaced persons in the state to enable them to return to normal life.
The displaced families fled their homes and took refuge in Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp after insurgents’ sacked the community in 2014.
The insurgents killed some of the residents and set the entire community ablaze.
Represented by his Deputy, Umar Kadafur, Mr Zulum said that the agrarian community would return to their farmlands and engage in meaningful livelihood activities.
Mr Zulum said: “The state government will collaborate with the humanitarian community to support you with empowerment so that you can become self-reliant.
“We will make sure that we do not only provide you with livelihood support but also ensure that we collaborate with the security agencies to guarantee your safety,” he said.
The governor urged the youths to be patient and to stay together to develop their community.
“As you are returning home, I want to urge the youths to desist from any form of social vices or nefarious activities.
“You must be law-abiding and do meaningful things that will add value to your lives,” Mr Zulum said.
Also speaking, Mustapha Gubio, the Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), said the resettlement process was implemented in accordance with the humanitarian principles of willingness, safety and dignity.
Mr Gubio noted that each of the displaced houses would be supported with N50,000 resettlement package to enable them to engage in meaningful activities.
The commissioner added that the ministry also distributed assorted food and relief items to each of the resettled families such as rice, cooking oil, mosquito nets, blankets, textile materials and mattresses.
In his remarks, Lawan Awwal, the District Head of Kawuri, thanked Gov. Zulum for rebuilding the destroyed community.
“We lost everything that we once prided ourselves as owning, but we thank God for sparing our lives to see this day.
“We want to thank you for building our homes, hospitals and providing us with livelihood support,” Mr Awwa said.
NAN
