Flooding: Fake Victims Taking Over IDP Camps, Gov. Zulum Laments

Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum has decried the infiltration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps by those not directly affected by the recent flooding in Maiduguri and Jere.

Zulum stated this when he officially launched the distribution of relief materials to those affected by the recent flooding in Maiduguri on Monday at Bakassi Camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.

The flood, caused by overflowing from Alau Dam, has displaced nearly 2 million people in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.

Governor Zulum expressed concern over the influx of individuals into the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps who were not directly affected by the flooding. He stressed that this has complicated the distribution process.

“We have observed that the influx of non-affected individuals into the camps has made the situation unsustainable,” Zulum said. “It is challenging to manage the camps efficiently under these conditions.”

To address this, Zulum announced plans to conduct a thorough assessment of the affected areas to guide future relief efforts.

“We have mobilised resources to ensure that all affected individuals receive the necessary relief items. Additionally, we will assess the affected communities to accurately determine the number of those impacted,” he added.

Governor Zulum also acknowledged the support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which have provided food donations to aid the flood victims.

The aid packages include a 25kg bag of rice, a carton of pasta, and N10,000 in cash per recipient.

NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar also highlighted her agency’s contributions, noting that since the outset of the flooding, NEMA has been supplying shelters and mobile water purifiers to ensure access to clean drinking water for those affected.