By Ishaya Ibrahim
A humanitarian worker in Borno Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, was stunned when he met a girl of 12 who had acquired the expertise in handling assault riffles, including AK47. He also met a boy who trekked, searching for safe havens from his abductors.
He disclosed the information at a round table in Lagos organised by Journalists for Christ, with the support of World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), Bread for the World, and Waldensian Church’s Otto per Mille (OPM) Office in Italy. The event was to assess how well the media reports IDPs.
The aid worker, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said that he was himself traumatised after hearing and seeing things for himself.
He said that the girl was one of the many abducted by the Boko Haram and exposed to the intricacies of guns, how it could be loaded and fired.
He lamented that many younger girls are also exposed to sex and drugs at a very tender age.
He said that the Boko Haram were in the habit of drugging the girls before having sex with them.
Another aid worker at the forum said that he was reliably informed that what is approved for the IDPs per meal is N700. Yet, he saw hunger and malnutrition visibly advertised in almost all the camps he visited.
A lawyer who visited one of the IDP camps in Adamawa, reported that there were several human rights abuses taking place in the camps, perpetrated by those who ought to protect the IDPs.
The forum advised government to improve on the facilities at the camps, especially toilet and water supply, and to plan a reintegration programme for the IDPs.
