IDPs

The Yobe Committee on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has launched a massive sensitisation programme on explosive devices and suspicious objects ahead of people returning to communities liberated from insurgents.

The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Aji Bularafa, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday.

Aji, the Chairman of the Publicity Sub-committee, said “it is pertinent to sensitise the villagers at this time when they return home and start clearing their farmlands preparatory to the cropping season.

Seven persons were killed last week by landmines while clearing their farmlands on the outskirts of Goniri village.

“The people are predominantly farmers displaced for about three years and now anxious to go back to the farms; so, they must be vigilant of objects in their environment to avoid accidents,’’ he said.

The commissioner also urged the people to report suspicious objects, movements and persons to security agents.

“There are Special Forces trained to handle explosive devices, you should report suspicious objects to them, you should avoid touching or moving such objects because they are very dangerous,’’ he warned.

Aji said the committee had delivered relief materials to Gujba, Goniri, Katarko, Ngurum, Bara, Dokshi, Ngurbuwa, Bulturam-Kura and Kanama.

According to him, government has also rehabilitated boreholes in some of the communities and efforts are being made to rehabilitate other water sources in the liberated communities.

He assured that the state government would continue to support people relocating to their communities to enhance rehabilitation and resettlement in their communities.