Borno Governor Babagana Zulum says his government will commence closure of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state as they are fast becoming breeding grounds for prostitution, drug abuse and thuggery.

“The IDP camps were becoming a slum where all kinds of vices were happening including prostitution, drugs and thuggery in some cases,” Mr Zulum said. “No responsible leadership will allow people to live an undignified life under its watch.”

Mr Zulum disclosed this in his 2022 New Year message on January 1, stating that his government will commence closure of IDP camps in the state later in the year.

“We closed the IDP camps to clean up the places and give our people dignity as well as purpose. Living in IDP camp is not what we are used to, or what we like as a people.

“Therefore, we believe that a safe life of dignity is a right for all the citizens of Borno, and indeed Nigeria,” Mr Zulum said.

For over a decade, Nigeria’s North-East has been under incessant attacks by Boko Haram terrorists who are bent on establishing an Islamic Caliphate in the region.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in June reported that since taken up arms against Nigeria in 2009, Boko Haram have killed about 350,000 people in the North-East, 90 per cent of whom were children.

Over two million persons have been displaced due to the Boko Haram menace in the North-East region.