The Police Command in Borno on Tuesday said it had arrested 12 members of the Bama Initiative for Human Development and All Bama Youths Development Association over alleged conspiracy and inciting disturbances.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Victor Isuku, made the disclosure in a Text message sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.
Isuku said that the suspects had already been arraigned in court on two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbances.
He said that the court had remanded the suspects in prison custody.
“Twelve persons under the group Bama Initiative for Human Development and All Bama Youths Development Association were arrested for the offence of criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbances.
“They have been charged to court and remanded in prison custody till next hearing,” Isuku said.
NAN reports that the group had on Sunday staged a demonstration in Maiduguri demanding the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes in Bama.
Alhaji Muhammad Hassan, the Group’s Chairman, said that they wanted to return to their communities to enable them to continue with their normal life in view of the return of peace to the state.
Hassan noted that about 70 per cent of the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects had been completed in the area, hence, the need for them to return home.
He said that they were tired of staying in the camps and living as displaced persons.
“We have been in Maiduguri for over three years without meaningful source of livelihood. The condition of our people is pathetic.
“The process of returning displaced persons to their homes is moving at a snail speed and has exposed us to unbearable hardships.
“We could no longer send our children to school; many have died of hunger and starvation. Most of us live in host communities and no one is supporting us,” he said.
However, it took the intervention of the police to prevent the displaced persons from embarking on the “dangerous journey”, to secure their safety.
Mr Damian Chukwu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who addressed the IDPs, urged them to drop the idea.
Chukwu said that the group had not notified the command over their planned return journey to Bama town.
“The police have a duty to protect you and we will not allow you to gather people and expose them to danger in the name of home return,” he said.
Chukwu noted that there was massive reconstruction and rehabilitation work going on in the town, being undertaken by the Federal Government and the State Government under the Bama Initiative.
The said the command would not allow the IDPs to return because of the security situation, and urged them to go back and wait for the time when government would permit their return to the town.
Also, Gov. Kashim Shettima, urged the IDPs to exercise caution and cooperate with government to fast track completion of rehabilitation projects in the town,so as to facilitate their safe return.
The governor who spoke through Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser, Communication and Media Strategy said the government was desirous of ensuring safe return of IDPs to their respective communities.
“It is to the government’s advantage if IDPs return home because their return will lessen economic burden of supporting them as displaced persons.
“The greatest wish of the governor is the safe and dignified return of all IDPs to their communities. Much as he wants the IDPs to return, he is also concerned about their safety.
“The governor is consistently committed to the ongoing rebuilding of private homes, police stations, hospitals, schools, water facilities, markets, council secretariats and other essential services in communities across 15 local government areas of the state,’’ Gusau said.
He disclosed that the State Government had so far constructed 20, 000 residential homes in Bama and provided modern health facilities, schools and police stations in the area.
He added that the Federal Government was currently training a special Anti Terrorism Squad and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), to be deployed to the town under the Bama Initiative.
The special adviser explained that the special police unit would replace the military, and also comprised of agro-rangers, specifically trained to secure farmers in their farmlands.
“The Federal Government is contributing 67 per cent to the funding of the project, while the state government contributed 33 per cent.
“It is an all encompassing project designed to fast track rebuilding of infrastructure and restoration of livelihood to the people in Bama.
“We have to ensure that there is full return of civil security before IDPs can return. The governor encourages safe and dignified return only after putting the right things in place,” the official said.
According to him, the state government has re-built houses and re-settled displaced persons in parts of Kaga, Konduga and Gwoza local government areas of the state.
Gusau stressed that resettlement exercises were conducted after the affected areas were certified safe before IDPs were allowed to return.