Why Gombe has no IDP camp – Gov
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya on Tuesday explained why the state doesn’t have internally displaced persons camp despite suffering from effects of insurgency.
Our correspondent reports that although the state has been peaceful but IDPs migrated from Yobe, Borno and other troubled parts of the region and are found within communities across the state.
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Yahaya, represented by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau made this disclosure during Federal Government’s digitised conditional cash transfer of N20,000 to 2100 women and 900 youths in the state.
The governor’s reasons were hinged on stigmatisation, noting that to ensure they stayed within the communities, they would would be rapidly integrated without the feeling of been unwanted.
He explained, “IDPs give the stigma to those in the camps. Of course we know how stigmatisation has been a hindrance for recovery of diseases, and by extension slow “recovery” of the victims gathered in IDPs.
“IDPs make it difficult for the full integration of these victims since IDPs are seen as isolated from the rest of the society.
“In extreme cases, victims in IDPs are out rightly rejected by the society just like people from Correctional Centers are rejected. With this the tendency to go back to the “old ways” is high.”
Yahaya noted that the state would continue to play the much sisterly role, towards ensuring stabilisation of the region.
“The North East as it is equidistant from the other five states. Accordingly, we have been a very good neighbour to all the states and so we accommodate a very large population from these states. Subsequently there is a great need gap in the provision of facilities and basic needs in the health, education, even the economy as all these are over stretched,” Yahaya added.
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