NGO wants FG to close down IDPs’ camps in the North-East

The Children’s Government of Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organisation, has called on the federal and state governments to close Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East.

Mr Patrick Ikpeme, its National Coordinator, made the call in Minna, during a courtesy visit to the Niger State Development Company.

He said that the camps should be closed down “immediately” because they had a negative effect on women and children.

“Many of the women in the camps live irresponsible lives with nobody to check them; if they return to their various communities, they will be more careful.”

“The children also live carefree lives due to the absence of parents or guardians. They are denied even basic means of livelihood. When they get desperate, they can jump into bad things,” he said.

He stressed the need for government to resettle the IDPs back to their various communities where they could restart their lives with communal support.

The Coordinator said that the visit was to drum up support for children affected by insurgencies, and urged wealthy Nigerians to initiate measures to support them.

Earlier, Alhaji Muhammad Kure, Managing Director of the company, had pledged support for the NGO after being conferred with “Ambassador of Peace” by the group.