A population of about 50,000 IDPs in his hometown, Mafa Camp, Mafa LGA of Borno State, had gathered their belongings in protest of the shortage of food supplies, threatening to vacate the camp over hunger.
The Mafa incident follows a similar protest by IDPs at the Dikwa IDP camp a couple of days ago, expressing similar threats.
Addressing the about 50,000 IDPs at his hometown, Mafa Camp, Mafa LGA, Governor Zulum described them as ingrates, saying, “I have done my best for you; I cannot do more than this.”
He said, “Today, IDPs in Mafa, my hometown, IDP camp are protesting and all threatening to vacate the camp.
“The protest and threat are caused by mischief makers.
“The current food shortage is the world over, and it is caused by the Russia-Ukraine war; it is not restricted to Borno State alone.”
He noted, “Over the last one year, I have come to Mafa over 30 times for the distribution of food and non-food items, I cannot do more than this.”
“In the last one year, I have spent not less than N40 billion to provide food and non-food items to the displaced people of the state.”
He said, due to the gradual restoration of security in the state, “What we need is that people should go back to their agricultural land; the army has provided security, and there is nothing we can do.”
Zulum stressed that “no administration, be it federal or state, has the capacity to provide food and non-food items to millions in displaced persons camps.”
The governor said, “Borno State and Federal Government are partnering to see how we should end the hunger crisis in the state, but anybody who tries to sabotage this administration would be dealt with accordingly.
“I have tried my best; since you are not grateful for that, anybody who is willing to stay in the camp, fine and good, and anybody who is not willing to stay, let him go, we are not begging you to stay.”
