Zulum Orders Closure of Bama IDP Camp Over Insecurity

On Thursday, Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum announced the immediate closure of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Bama Local Government Area, citing a rise in criminal activities and infiltration by Boko Haram and ISWAP militants. During a visit to Gwoza Local Government Area, Zulum expressed concern over the increasing criminality within the camp, which has become a hotspot for illicit activities.

He indicated that the camp would close on the same day, with plans to resettle displaced individuals back to their communities within two to three weeks. The governor highlighted that a significant number of fake IDPs were identified during a screening exercise, raising concerns about the sustainability of maintaining the camp.

Zulum emphasized that the government cannot continue to support the camp under the current circumstances and noted that the next phase of closure would involve the Gwoza IDP camp. He mentioned that almost 3,000 households had returned to the town, indicating a shift towards normalcy.