Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has officially shut down the Muna Internally Displaced Persons camp in Maiduguri, which had provided shelter for over 11,000 individuals.
The Muna camp was among the largest established during the peak of the humanitarian emergency triggered by prolonged insurgency in the region.
While addressing the media, Governor Zulum explained that the closure was prompted by growing concerns over unlawful activities within the camp.
“We have observed that in the IDP camp there is increased level of prostitution, gangsterism, cases of child abuse and other criminalities,” the governor stated.
He emphasized that genuine recovery from the Boko Haram crisis hinges on resettlement, noting that displaced persons must return to their communities to rebuild their lives.
“Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement taking place,” Zulum declared, “people have to go back to their homes and earn their livelihood.”
The governor had previously announced plans to close all 12 formal IDP camps in Maiduguri four years ago. With this latest move, only two informal camps now remain.
Zulum revealed that 75 percent of Muna’s IDPs had already been resettled earlier in 2024, and the remaining 25 percent will be relocated to their ancestral homes within days.
As part of the relocation package, the government will provide each of the 6,000 affected households with food assistance, shelter materials, and healthcare services.
In addition, the governor said financial support would be extended to all resettled families: “Each head of a household (male or female) will receive N100,000, and an additional N50,000 will be given to all the housewives.”