SOME of the residents of the border town of Baga, in the northeastern Borno State, who were displaced by the operation carried out by security forces to flush out members of the violent extremist group Boko Haram are still hiding out in the forests.
This is according to Abdul Kadir Ibrahim, an information officer with the National Emergency Management Agency for the northeast zone, who made the disclosure in a statement made available to the press in the city of Yola on Monday.
The statement acknowledged that the vicinity is now calm following the escalation of violence that attended the military operation. However, upon the Agency’s arrival in Baga, it was discovered that most of the displaced persons are still in the woods.
“Other people are taking refuge in the homes of their relations in the neighboring communities,” it said.
He said that humanitarian workers led by the agency had commenced distribution of relief items to displaced persons affected by the crisis.
“This is in line with the President Goodluck Jonathan directive to the agency that immediate relief materials should be given to the people.
“The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi had dispatched a team of officers with the relief and medical items to affected persons in the area,’’ Ibrahim said.
“The major task before NEMA is to ensure that people in the bush are relocated to temporary camps,’’ the statement quoted NEMA Director, Search and Rescue, Air Commondore Charles Otebagde as saying.
It also revealed that an immediate rapid assessment was being conducted in collaboration with Red Cross and other voluntary organizations.
According to the statements, relief items are being distributed while those with minor injuries are being treated at a temporary camp clinic opened in the area.
The statement said that the communities affected were Bayan Bulabulin, Anguwa Gajagaja, Aliya, Musarin Baga, Kasuwan baga, Layin Yannono.
It appealed to the people to remain calm as no meaningful development could be achieved without peace.
The items distributed by the officials together with other humanitarian workers included medical, sanitary, food, household materials and tents.
Meanwhile, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, has appealed to humanitarian organisations, corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to provide more relief materials to Baga victims.
Ibn Garbai made this known on Monday in Baga during a sympathy visit to the people of Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.
He said that the victims were in dire need of urgent support due to the magnitude of the disaster.
Ibn Garbai, who presented a cash donation of an undisclosed amount to the victims, commended the state government for its assistance to the victims.