By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Hundreds
of internally displaced persons on Thursday trooped to the streets of Maiduguri
protesting alleged non provision of food at their camp.
The IDPs who left their camp on Gubio road as early as 8am disturbed traffic
from on roads leading to Gubio and Baga from Maiduguri.
The protesters were watched by soldiers and policemen who ensured that the
protest did not degenerate into violence.
The protesters who were mainly women and children, complained that they have
not been given food for about six months and they have to engaged in begging on
Maiduguri streets to feed.
They however left the roads about 10am when an appeal was made by the
chairperson of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA), Hajiya
Yabawa Kolo who promised to looked into their complaints and ensure that food
are made to them.
Speaking on phone to our correspondent on the protest, the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA), Head of Emergency Food Distribution in Borno State,
Commander Danjuma Salisu said the protest was a surprise to stakeholders in the
management of IDP camps in Borno State.
He said they had a meeting about a week ago where challenges were discussed and
no one envisage this.
He said that in that particular camp, the food administration is under the
United Nations World Food Programme.
He said on learning of the protest, the other camp managers, SEMA and NEMA got
in touch with WFP who said they gave out food to beneficiaries from the camp
just last month and that they were already preparing to give foodstuff for this
month.
He said for those that have been captured by the International Organisation for
Migration (IOM) they qualify for a food ration.
Salisu said the WFP revealed that those that protested must have failed the
criteria qualifying them as IDPs for it is strict and to prevent IDPs going to
collect from more than a camp.
He said the registration of IDPs is done by IOM in conjunction with Bulama (the
leader) of the community of the IDPs.
He however promised that something would be done to address the protest.