Stop the Suffering of Displaced Persons in Jigawa

Jigawa State Nigeria

By Abubakr Abdullahi

Inside the horrible and excruciating hardship of IDPs in Jigawa – Government must move to stop the suffering of internally displaced persons in Jigawa State.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are victims of the dreaded Boko Haram activities that woefully affect North East States.
Individuals, groups and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are raising awareness about IDPs in Jigawa state and working towards their recognition by government. In the last couple of months, CSOs and groups have mobilised various forms of assistance while creating awareness about their existence and the varying forms of difficulties that this segment of the population are facing due to lack of recognition by government and other key stakeholders in the community.

Major problems of IDPs are lack of appropriate accommodation, no work and sustainable means of livelihood, lack of education for their children and lack of voice with which to air their concerns and have available appropriate forms of support either from government or from the communities in which they live in. Another major issue is the continuous exposure of women and children of these displaced populations to risks of violence due to their involvement in mass numbers in street begging across the state.

Although there is a general denial of IDPs existence in Jigawa state particularly by institutions and leaders at various levels due to consistent inaction, however IDPs do exist in the state at the various LGAs. These are local governments which share borders with those areas that were prone to the boko haram insurgency in the past years. And even though IDPs are increasing getting support in various forms particularly of food and other items what they are urgently in need of is appropriate accommodation and sustainable means of livelihood which will enable them overcome their current conditions. Hence government need to institutionalize the IDPs in the state, which will enable availability of key forms of support to and additional opportunities for IDPs to assist them overcome their current conditions.

Albeit, the war against insurgency has reached its peak, with the government recording tremendous success, and the terrorists brought to near end, the issue now is finding sustainable and durable solutions for the IDPs. This includes integration in to their host communities, the right to return to their habitual residence Or relocation to safer area to set up another community, which may take a longer time to be fully established.

In all my reservations, Government, non governmental organisations and other relevant actors have key roles to play to ensure that there is access to food, shelter, security, sanitation and education. Integration as it will result in New opportunities and benefits to the host community through skilled Labour and demand for goods and services which will boost the economy.

Narrowing down to the social implications and consequences of abandoning these segment of the population. Crime, deviation and all sorts of social ills and vices have a direct bearing with the structure of the society concerned. Frustration Aggression theory postulated that, when people are denied their basic human needs (Shelta, Food, Clothing, intimacy etc) the tendency to break the law and satisfy their needs through illegal means is most likely. Therefore, it is sociologically “unwise” to allow the IDPs in such a excruciating hardship, dilapidated and predicament conditions, as it is likely to escalate and influence their non-comformity to the set rules of such community. “An idle mind is a devil’s workshop” people that have no access to basic health care, no shelter, no food, no no no no…, will always think contrary. It is therefore, a matter of urgent necessity for government and other nongovernmental organisations to embark in to a rescue mission to salvage the IDPs more precisely my humble State Jigawa.

Abubakar Abdullahi
State Coordinator
Change Organisation Nigeria
Jigawa State Chapter

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