by Ajadi Daniel
The National Emergency Management Agency says the number of Internally Displaced Persons in Yola, Adamawa, has dropped from 60,000 to 18,958.
This was disclosed on Friday by Mr Sa’ad Bello, the head, NEMA Operation Office, Yola during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on NEMA to the IDPs camp in Damare, Yola.
A statement signed by Mr Sani Datti, Head, Media and Public Relations of NEMA, quoted Bello as saying that the drop is as a result of voluntary return of the IDPs to their homes.
Obviously, the IDPs are going back home, the reason for this is not far fetched, the Boko haram onslaught though has suddenly renewed its vigour but is nothing compared to what has happened in the past, especially when most of the attacks are in far north or fringes of Borno state. Yet the government should not rejoice at the reduction in the numbers of IDPs in the camp, but should step up their humanitarian activities and support for the returning IDPs.
Efforts should be made to support those that are returning home, they should be encouraged to enroll their children in school, and some of them should be given loans to start their businesses afresh; for the farmers, the state government should consider given them seedlings and encourage them with other incentives to ensure they get back on their feet.
The bottom line is that all stake holders must put hands on deck to ensure that these people who had experienced one of the greatest civil crises after the civil war should be supported and engaged so as to give them the chance to put behind them that sordid experience.
What is your take on this, we encourage you to suggest ways the state and Federal government could help the returning IDPs. You could leave your comment behind or reach the editor on contact@ymonitor.org.