Niger Government has shut down an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mokwa, citing security concerns to the community and allegations of illegal activities.
The temporary camp was built by the Nigerian Red Cross Society to serve as a temporary shelter for victims of the recent flood in Mokwa.
Security agencies led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Godwin Iheanacho, Area Commander of New Bussa Area Command, supervised the demolition of the temporary shelter at the camp on Thursday in Mokwa.
Alhaji Jibrin Muregi, Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area told newsmen during the demolition exercise that the decision to shut down the camp was reached during an expanded security meeting.
According to him, the meeting was attended by Village Head of Mokwa, Alhaji Muhammed Shaba, Etsuyamkpa of Ndayako, Sarkin Hausawa of Mokwa, Tanko Bala, heads of security agencies, council members and legislature.
He disclosed that Nigerian Red Cross Society had constructed the temporary camp for victims of the flood without approval from the local government council.
Muregi said that the camp had become a security concern, a “danger in disguise”, stating that the council had received complaints from locals that the occupants of the IDPs camp were not victims of the May 29 flood incident.
He said the decision to shut down the camp was taken to ensure safety of lives and livelihoods of the entire community.
Also, Shaba, the Village Head of Mokwa Shaba, said that over 85 per cent of the victims of the flood disaster had been compensated by the state government.
He explained that the victims who may not have gotten compensation from the state government was due to inconsistency in their bank accounts.
Reacting to the demolition, Mallam Musa Sheshi, a resident of the area, expressed relief, saying the camp was no longer needed.
Sheshi alleged that majority of the people allocated shelters in the camp were not flood victims.
“When you come in the afternoon, the camp looks empty, you won’t see anyone, but in the night, you will see a lot of different calibre people we don’t know,” he said.
He expressed fears that the camp could be used as a hideout for bandits.
Another resident, Yusuf Isah, also alleged that some men and women were using the camp for immoral activities.
“Some men were using the camp as a place where they bring women in the night and sleep and leave in the morning,” he added.
Recall that Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger had in June directed the closure of IDPs camp after compensating victims, with about 85 per cent of victims already paid.
