Boko Haram: Human Rights group accuses international bodies of frustrating plans to return IDPs home

THE coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution In Nigeria has accused foreign organisations of frustrating the moves to return the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, back to their country homes. The group alleged that some international agencies have continued to enrich themselves in the name of rendering aid to victims of the Boko Haram attacks in the northeastern part of the country.

Maxwell Gowon, Executive Director/ National Coordinator, who made this revelation while presenting report after assessment of ongoing military exercise in Borno axis, called on the federal government and the military authorities to immediately unveil a roadmap for returning and reintegrating IDPs into their original communities.

He also suggested that stakeholders should convene a forum to audit the roles being played by all organisations with the presence in the northeast of Nigeria.

His words: “The decision to focus on these aspects was informed in part by feedback from residents of affected communities who are concerned that full return of peace to their towns and villages is being prevented by factors that stakeholders in Nigeria may not have much control over.

The concerns were tempered by the understanding that anything that offers the slightest boost to Boko Haram risks not only reviving the terror organisation but would also position the terrorists to fully overrun the country.

“These boots, sadly, exist in form of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps that have remained operational in the areas years after the communities from where the IDPs were displaced have been fully liberated by troops and are being rehabilitated by the relevant level of government.

“The camps constitute soft targets for Boko Haram’s person-borne IEDs and suicide bombers who continue to attempts attacks at the facilities to create the impression of still being deadly. The camps have also been exploited by sympathizers of the terror group as a recruitment ground to replenish the decimated ranks of the terrorists”.

He further alleged that “Those profiting from Boko Haram terrorism continue to use the camps as the avenue to steal money through diversion and theft of funds and relief materials. The presence of the IDPs at the camps does not, therefore, guarantee that intended interventions get to them.

“The upcoming 2019 General Elections further expose the camps to the risk of becoming political prop with the risk that they could become the epicentre of violence since politicians already exploit the vulnerability of the IDPs.

“IDPs are unable to return to lives of active economic engagement and therefore continue to be dependent on aids.

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This opens them up to being recruited as actors and actresses as recently demonstrated by the fictitious report published by Amnesty International that alleged that they were raped.

It turned out in some cases that persons who have been forced into compromising position, as a result, won’t have to allege abuse to escape social rejection and get sympathy.

Gowon said liberated but unoccupied communities provide the safe haven for fleeing Boko Haram terrorists that are able to hide within such communities to plan attacks on soft targets.

“The federal government and the military must immediately unveil a roadmap for returning and reintegrating IDPs into their original communities.

“Stakeholders should convene a forum to audit the roles being played by all organizations with the presence in the northeast of Nigeria”, he added.