The Nigerian Army has relocated a large number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to newly constructed camps in Monguno town, Borno State, amid fresh concerns over security breaches in some settlements.
The Army said the move was part of efforts to improve the welfare of displaced persons while tightening security in the area, which has remained vulnerable to insurgent activities.
In a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai/Multi-National Joint Task Force, Monguno, Lieutenant Ayodeji Abiodun, the military disclosed that new camps had been established within the town.
According to the statement, many of the displaced persons had already been moved from makeshift shelters into the newly built camps.
It read, “With the construction of the new camps, many of these IDPs moved from the makeshift structures to the camps, except IDPs from areas within the Marte axis that still remain in the makeshift structures within the town. They rejected relocation to the new camps.”
The Army noted that a category of IDPs, particularly those from communities within the Marte axis, declined to move into the new facilities, opting instead to remain in temporary structures.
The refusal, it was gathered, has complicated efforts to fully secure and monitor all displaced populations within Monguno.
Raising a fresh alarm, the military said intelligence reports indicated that some IDP camps had been compromised by terrorist elements.
Specifically, the Army alleged that residents of Gana Ali and Stadium IDP camps had been harbouring insurgents who launch attacks on military positions in the area.
The statement said, “Intelligence revealed that residents of Gana Ali and Stadium IDP camps have been providing accommodation for terrorist infiltrators when they carry out attacks on military deployments in the area.”
The Army further disclosed that the activities of the infiltrators had made certain camps unsafe and inaccessible to other residents, as well as security operatives.
According to the statement, even members of the Civilian Joint Task Force have been unable to operate in some of the affected areas.
It added that CJTF personnel previously deployed to guard the Gana Ali and Stadium camps were killed by terrorists who infiltrated the locations.
“The CJTF have duty locations in all parts of the town, except at GG, Gana Ali, and Stadium IDP camps, as their personnel, earlier deployed on guard duties at these places, were killed by terrorists who infiltrated the area,” the statement added.
