An unscheduled visit by Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Studies, Maiduguri, has led to the discovery of 550 persons described as dubious residents who had been posing as IDPs and collecting food rations.
Malam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to Governor Zulum said in a statement on Sunday that the shocking find was made after a headcount of IDPs was ordered during the surprise visit.
“At about midnight on Sunday, Governor Babagana Zulum visited Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies in Maiduguri, where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Abadam were being camped.
“Zulum immediately sealed entrance and supervise a headcount to identify actual IDPs, in order to put a stop to rampant cases of dubious residents pretending to be IDPs, claiming food rations meant displaced persons.
“The governor discovered that out of the 1,000 IDP households in the records of humanitarian officials, only 450 were genuine IDPs, while the rest 550 were ghosts.
“In humanitarian system, a household normally consist of at least six persons who are either related through families, or chosen to stay together for the purpose of receiving household aids”, part of the statement read.
It added, “Already, there is a committee attending to such people, a case where some residents of Maiduguri are making dubious claims in other to take what is meant for IDPs while also benefiting from other welfare packages targeted at non IDPs is unacceptable”.
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