Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, has said that Boko Haram
insurgents, are recruiting more children into the sect, because of
unemployment among youths.
Zulum raised the alarm at the weekend, while receiving an 18-member
House Committee on North East Development Commission at Government
House, Maiduguri.
According to him, the recruitment exercise, is however, a direct
fallout of youth unemployment and their continuous living in
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and host communities.
He said that in Monguno, Gambouru and Pulka IDP camps, border
communities with Cameroon; are accommodating over 1.45 million
displaced persons.
“The only solution we have now is to ensure the safe return of our
people to their homes in a dignified manner,” he said; warning that;
“If nothing is done believe me sincerely; we shall face a very serious
challenge even more than what we are facing now.”
Continued; “Right now; the insurgents are recruiting many of our
children into the sect because of increasing rate of unemployment
among youths,” lamenting that the IDP household farmers, could not
access their farmlands for over a decade.
He therefore suggested to the legislators that the solution to this
problem is to shift from short term humanitarian support to
longer-term development and sustainable means of safe return of IDPs
to their communities.
While responding, NEDC’s House Committee Chairperson, Hon. Khadija
Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who led the oversight function team, said:
“Governments of the six States affected by insurgency should partner
with the commission on the goals of improved sustainable development
of region.
