The Chairman of the New Kutchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philemon Emmanuel has said Boko Haram members still have a stronghold in Bayan Dutse, as “no soldier has been to that place”.
He added that “the soldiers stay in Gwoza, where the population of people is not as concentrated compared to our community, which is closer to the Cameroonian border.”
He made this known to newsmen yesterday in Abuja while receiving various gift items from Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, and who went to the camp to celebrate his birthday with the children, women and people in the IDP camp.
He added:” We want to go back to our village, but we cannot, because the Army has not being there to clear the place.
“As I speak with you, we are in touch with some of our relatives who are still hanging around there. So we get every information. If the Army clear our community in Gwoza, Bayan Dutse, we are ready to leave even today”.
While expressing their profound appreciation for the gifts of a cow, 50 bags of rice, 60 cartons of noodles and children’s books for primary school pupils, the camp Chairman said the camp has more than 1000 people with children in the majority, most of whom would have heeded to the President’s advice that displaced persons should return home, but for the fact that the insurgents are still domiciled in their communities in the larger section of Gwoza council.
Meanwhile, a group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno State have expressed the desire to go back to their village, but are afraid their community is still infested by the Boko Haram elements.