Shettima expresses sadness over murder of IDP

•Orders screening of IDPS, combing of camps

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Governor Kashim Shettima has received with utter shock and sadness information concerning the murder of an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), name withheld, whose body was found at the Shettima Ali Monguno Teachers Village camp on Thursday.

Bama IDP Camp

Initial report, though unconfirmed indicated that the victim was beheaded inside the camp after misunderstanding that erupted between him and some aggrieved youth over a girlfriend who is among the fleeing refugees.

Our correspondent also observed that there would be a serious problem in the nearest future when IDPs return to their communities following illegal marriages that occurred amongst IDPs while in the camps, as some of the marriages were contracted among those who had already gotten married with their former spouses, but due to the sacking and displacement of their communities by insurgents, some fled to neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republic, while their wives fled into Nigeria who later got married to another men they met in camps.

The fully fenced camp, located at Pompamari, near the headquarters of the Garrison Commander 7 Division, Nigerian Army hosts 13,000 displaced persons from Ngala and Kukawa local government areas while two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Ngala and Kukawa alongside policemen under their formations live at the camp as part of security measures long adopted by government.

According to a close government source, the male victim’s body was not found beheaded. Contrary to media reports, the victim was found tied with bruises on his head apparently resulting from hits.

Governor Kashim Shettima who is very much disturbed has since ordered immediate investigations by the police and demanded arrest of any person connected to the incident.

The Governor also directed officials to comb the camp throughout the night of Thursday to search within and around the camp to ensure no displaced person has any object that can cause injury.

The police has recovered the body of the victim and his identity will be revealed to members of the public after his family is contacted.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Engineer Garba Satomi informed Governor Shettima on Thursday that the police has arrested a displaced person in connection with the the attack and that more suspects where being trailed.

Satomi also said the investigation has so far pointed at a disagreement between a group of youths who later conspired an attacked the murdered victim.

As at 8pm of Thursday, camp officials were already complying with Governor Shettima’s orders as meetings were being held between officials and chairmen of the two local government areas at the camp with participation of members of the civilian JTF while the camp was combed with searches being conducted.

However, Shettima said Government will never accept threats in any IDP camp where citizens already suffer the trauma of being displaced as a result of insurgency attacks.