I don’t want my successor to Inherit Boko Haram IDPs – Shettima

Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima on Wednesday said his greatest wish is for his successor not to inherit internally displaced persons and the Boko Haram crisis he did in 2011.

He spoke when he inaugurated Committees with the mandate of cleaning up rebuilt communities and resettling over two million internally displaced persons. The Governor gave conditions that on no account should any IDP be resettled without recourse to safety and dignity.

The inauguration took place at the Government House in Maiduguri with terms of reference that included verification and registration of all returning IDPs, issuance of I.D cards to them and numbering of permanent shelters in addition to resettling them.

“As Governor of Borno State, my greatest wish is that whoever succeeds me does not inherit the Boko Haram crisis and does not inherit the existence of IDP camps in Borno State. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala grant our administration this noble wish. ‎Our gathering today is in furthering of our progressive work towards resettling IDPs in liberated and rebuilt communities. However, ‎in this important task, there are two principles we must never compromise. These principles are the safety and the dignity of our displaced brothers and sisters” the Governor told Committees sworn-in to resettle their kinsmen and women from respective IDP camps to communities” the Governor said.

"No IDP should be resettled in any community that is considered unsafe for any reason. You must always remember that whereas we do not want our citizens internally displaced, we cannot afford to have them internally dead. As a rule, Committees must confirm the full return of civil authority as well as access to essential public services like schools, healthcare centres, water and means of livelihood before resettlement is effected.

The committee must always refer to the military and relevant security agencies in carrying out this assignment. I will explore you to be consultative in all the steps you shall be taking. Reasonably listen very attentively to existing residents of liberated communities, listen to resident traditional institutions; listen to resident security officials and listen to the IDPs on behalf of whom you are to serve. I will like to assure that Government will accord you all the support you need as you get the opportunity to be part of another phase of Borno’s history” Shettima told the committees.