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Buhari, Tinubu Visit Adamawa IDP Camp

By Emmanuel Ande, Yola
14 November 2015   |   2:45 am
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians displaced by insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States that they would return to their homes soonest, saying his administration was doing everything possible to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
President Muhammadu Buhari with Governor Muhammadu Jibrillah of Adamawa State acknowledging cheers from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during his visit to IDPs Malkohi Camp in Yola … yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari with Governor Muhammadu Jibrillah of Adamawa State acknowledging cheers from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during his visit to IDPs Malkohi<br />Camp in Yola … yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

• Boko Haram Will Soon End, Says President
• Honours Seven Injured Soldiers For Gallantry

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians displaced by insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States that they would return to their homes soonest, saying his administration was doing everything possible to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Buhari gave the assurance yesterday while on a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Makolhi, located after the 23 Armoured Brigade in Yola in the company of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and other top government officials.

Buhari, who also visited troops in Yola, honoured seven soldiers who sustained serious injuries in ongoing operations against Boko Haram with the Purple Heart medal for gallantry.

“My government is doing everything possible to rebuild your homes, schools, hospitals and roads to enable you go back to your homes. Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past.

“I know that most of you are farmers and your farmlands have been destroyed but let me assure you that you will soon go back and continue with your farming,” Buhari told the IDPs.

He expressed concern that Boko Haram was killing people in markets and other public places without provocation.

He said the fight against insurgency is not for the government alone, noting that everybody must be involved and give security agents the deserved support to enable them crush the insurgents who he described as the enemies of the country.

The President commended the Adamawa State government for the support it has given the displaced persons. He assured the Adamawa government and the people that the Federal government would soon come to the aid of the state.

There was however a mild drama during the visit when the Adamawa State, Governor, Umaru Jibrilla, told the President that the state was burdened by the number of displaced persons, saying: “Mr President, in the next one or two days, we are going to receive about 10,000 of this kinds of people here.”

The statement angered the IDPs in the camp who protested that it was not only derogatory but also shows how they are regarded by people in leadership positions.

One of the IDPs who spoke with The Guardian, Mr John Audu, said the governor’s comments was not only injurious to them but also reminds them of their sufferings and their present status in the society.

“When you refer to people as ‘this kind of people’, it is the highest level of insult to every reasonable person but it is God that put us in this situation. So, we cannot blame the governor; it is the Creator that we can cry to,” he said with tears.

The Director General of NEMA, Sani Sidi, while welcoming the president said: “In Adamawa, we have so far received 15,754 internally displaced persons and we are expecting about 10,000 more”.

The IDPS spokesman, Mr. Nicholas Samuel told the President that the security agents sent to fight insurgents in the area were stealing their properties.

He appealed to the President to ensure that the security agents concentrate on their duty of ensuring that they end insurgency in the country.

At the conferment ceremony, President Buhari said that the honour to the seven wounded soldiers was in appreciation of their heroic contributions to the ongoing effort by the Nigerian Armed Forces to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

A statement by the Senior Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu quoted the president as saying: “These very deserved medals are in recognition of your sacrifices. I hope it will inspire you to give more to the nation and I urge you to maintain your determination to bring peace to our fatherland”.

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