Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Mandara Girau community in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State have returned to their homes after spending six days in displacement following a Boko Haram attack.
The return was coordinated by the Borno State Government under tight security, with the affected residents previously sheltered at Mbulamel Primary School in Biu town.
Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, said the safe return followed the directive of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who ordered immediate action upon receiving reports of the displacement.
Due to an official assignment in Abuja, the Deputy Governor delegated a high-level team led by Hon. Yakubu Gambo Kimba, Member representing Biu in the Borno State House of Assembly, to supervise the repatriation exercise.
Kadafur said adequate security arrangements were made in collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure the protection of returnees. He added that the government also provided essential relief items, including food and medical supplies, to support the affected families.
During an earlier visit to the IDP camp at Mbulamel Primary School, Kadafur sympathised with the displaced persons and reassured them of the government’s commitment to their safety and welfare.
“We urge our people to remain calm and resume their normal activities, especially farming. The government and security agencies are working closely to ensure their protection,” Kadafur said.
He called on the residents to cooperate with security forces by reporting any suspicious movements and to abide by security protocols in the area.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, Alhaji Sule Ali Yimi, commended Governor Zulum’s swift intervention and noted that the prompt response averted a deeper humanitarian crisis.
“Immediately the report of the attack was received, His Excellency directed the return of the displaced persons with adequate logistics and security arrangements,” Yimi said.
The District Head of Mandara Girau, Alhaji Maina Lawan Modu, thanked Governor Zulum for ensuring their timely return and the provision of security and relief assistance.
Meanwhile, Hon. Yakubu Gambo Kimba, who led the return process, described the development as another milestone in the state government’s ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy in insurgency-affected communities.
It would be recalled that the residents of Mandara Girau were displaced last week following a retaliatory attack by Boko Haram insurgents. The attack reportedly came after Nigerian Army troops arrested and neutralised two insurgents, prompting accusations by the terrorists that the locals were collaborating with the military.
