Zulum Orders Closure of Bama IDP Camp

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed the immediate closure of the Bama IDP camp, the largest internally displaced persons facility outside Maiduguri, citing improved security conditions in several communities across the state.

The governor announced the decision on Thursday during an assessment visit to the Government Secondary School IDP camp in Gwoza. He revealed that authorities had completed the screening and profiling of displaced persons in Bama and were moving ahead with plans to shut down the camp.

According to Zulum, the closure forms part of the state government’s broader efforts to resettle displaced residents in their original communities following the return of relative peace to areas previously affected by insurgency.

“We visited Bama yesterday and supervised the screening of IDPs, and by 12 noon, Bama IDP camp should be closed,” the governor said. He added that the Gwoza IDP camp is also expected to be shut within the next two or three weeks after the completion of necessary profiling exercises.

The governor noted that the state government has successfully resettled people in several communities over the past seven years, including Banki, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Goniri, Darajamal and other locations across Borno State.

While expressing optimism about the return process, Zulum voiced concerns about increasing criminal activities within some displacement camps. He warned that certain camps had become centres for social vices and alleged that insurgent elements linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP were gradually infiltrating the facilities.

The governor also raised concerns about individuals returning to camps despite living in their communities, allegedly to access humanitarian assistance distributed by non-governmental organisations. He disclosed that authorities identified a significant number of suspected fake IDPs during the screening exercise.

Zulum stressed that the Bama IDP camp closure and future camp shutdowns would be carried out in a sustainable manner, ensuring that displaced persons return to their communities under proper supervision and support structures.