IDPs protest planned relocation

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benin the Edo State capital have cried out over what they described as government’s plan to forcefully evacuate them from their present location to Kano and Jigawa states, with no concrete plans for them
A statement on behalf of the IDPs signed by Pastor Solomon A. Folorunsho, stated that the camp, established since 1992 is run by the International Christian Centre, in partnership with NGO, Christian Home for the Needy.
According to him, they have been caring for orphans, vulnerable children from broken homes and street children among others providing them with shelter, education and skills since 1992.
Most of the persons at the camp are children numbering with the youngest said to be four months old. They are housed in an IDPs camp in Uhogua camp in Benin City.
The IDPs have escaped from the volatile north-east where Boko Haram terrorists have sustained attacks on communities for over five years and they said they were not willing to go back to the north-east where they have been deprived of their freedom of movement and of their studies.
The statement said, “Since 2013 we started helping the children from the North and till date we have more than 900 of them here mostly from Christian families, attending school.
“Our plan for them is to relocate gradually and reunite those who still have families and relations with their families as the situation calms down except the orphans who may take more time”.
Folorunsho however noted, that “On Saturday, the SSS, Police, Civil Defense numbering more than 75 and armed came with 38 buses saying its order from Presidency to evacuate them to a place in Jigawa and Kano states.

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I called all the children out as instructed and announced it to them but the children refused and started weeping, even about 12 collapsed and fainted.
As at now they left without the children with the instruction I should take some days to prepare the children for evacuation.
The displaced persons reportedly rejected the planned relocation, saying, the Federal Government should bring the help it intended to render to them to Benin City, as they were not willing to move.
They said they are comfortable in the centre and asked the security officials to leave them.
“Let them help those that are still suffering. Those hiding in the mountains. We that have been rescued should be left here. They should bring the help to us here,” one of the IDPs said.
“We are Nigerians and we have the right to live wherever we choose to live,” another said.
Addressing reporters after the IDPs voiced their displeasure with the plan, the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maimuna Momodu, said she was not aware of the plan to relocate the IDPs even though the security team told her that the instruction was from the Presidency.

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