Contractor diverts 60 trucks of grains meant for IDPs

A contractor engaged by the Federal Government to supply grains to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Borno State has diverted 60 out of 113 trucks of the grains.

This was disclosed by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, in Maiduguri on Monday.

According to Ndume, who stated this while speaking to newsmen, the contractor, whose name he did not disclose, only supplied 53 trucks to the state out of 113.

He said: “It is an unfortunate incident; the contractor only delivered 53 trucks out of the 113 allocated to Borno State.

“We cannot proceed with the distribution. I have to go back and inform the President of this ugly development.”

Ndume, who said he was in the state because President Muhammadu Buhari asked him to commence the distribution of the grains alongside officials of the National Emergency Ma-nagement Agency, NEMA, said the contractor has been  arrested and was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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He also further disclosed that there are plans to shut down all IDP camps housing some Borno indigenes across the country, while they would be taken to transit camp in their respective local government areas “from where they can easily go back to their homes.”

He added: “I have told them (IDPs) in clear terms that time is ripe for them to go back home; there is no point remaining in the camp after three years.

“Gwoza Local Government Area, where I hail from, in particular, is now safe and secured. Over 10,000 residents are now living safely in Gwoza and there is no cause for alarm.

“It is very regretful that less than 3,000 Gwoza IDPs now in Maiduguri have refused to go back and resettle, despite all pleas to them

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews