The Bama Development Foundation, an NGO, said on Sunday that it had registered 180,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Bama taking refuge in Maiduguri.

Malam Mohammed Hassan, the Chairman of the foundation, stated this at a news conference in Maiduguri. Hassan said that the IDPs were in four camps in Maiduguri.

According to him, the IDPs are those displaced during attack on the town by insurgents in September.

Boko Haram internally displaced people at one of their camps

“We have recorded about 180,000 IDPs from Bama taking shelters in four different camps in Maiduguri as at Oct. 31. The camps are located at the Yerwa Girls Secondary School, Women Teachers College, NYSC Orientation Camp and Government Girls College, Maiduguri’’, he said.

Hassan added that some other IDPs were taking refuge in the neighbouring Cameroon and Chad Republics.

He said that the continued siege on Bama by the insurgents was creating hardship for the residents held hostage in the town.

“Only about one-third of the Bama population has been able to escape, leaving the rest under the captivity of the insurgents. Most of those left are the weak comprising women, children and the aged.These people are exposed to hunger, starvation and diseases.’’

Hassan appealed to the Federal Government to strive hard and free the town from the hands of the insurgents, so that the IDPs can return home.

He commended the military for reclaiming some towns seized in Adamawa State by the insurgents.

“We commend the military for liberating towns like Mubi in Adamawa from the insurgents. We urge them to extend the war to Bama and liberate the town so that we can all go back home,” Hassan said.

He also commended Gov. Kashim Shettima for providing shelter to the numerous IDPs from Bama in Maiduguri.

“We commend Gov. Kashim Shettima for providing camps for Bama IDPs in Maiduguri. We also commend public spirited individuals and corporate bodies for their intervention in different forms in the IDPs camp”, he said.