The Borno State Government has commenced the resettlement of 1,198 households from the Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Mafa to their ancestral communities in Ajiri Maf Ward of Mafa local government council.
The exercise is part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, restore livelihoods and enable affected families to rebuild their lives.
The resettlement programme is being implemented under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, with the committee chaired by Engr. Bukar Talba.
The exercise is supported by the Mafa local government council, led by its Executive Chairman, Alhaji Sale Bukar, the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other stakeholders.
The 1,198 beneficiary households are being resettled across Zangebe, Anaduwa, Ma’afa, Bemaram, Boskoro, Saleri and Farjallari communities, all within Mafa local government council.
As part of the resettlement package, each household is receiving cash assistance, as well as food and non-food items, to support the families in meeting immediate needs and restarting their lives in their communities.
Stakeholders involved in the exercise stressed the need for sustained support for returnees to enable them to regain their livelihoods and gradually restore normal life.
The returnees expressed happiness over their relocation from the IDP camp to communities closer to their ancestral homes and farmlands.
For many of the beneficiaries, the return is expected to provide an opportunity to reconnect with their farms, resume agricultural activities and rebuild their livelihoods after years of displacement.
The beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to the state government, the resettlement committee, SEMA, Mafa Local Government Council and other stakeholders for facilitating their return and providing resettlement assistance.
The resettlement of the 1,198 households represents another phase of Borno State’s broader reconstruction, recovery and reintegration efforts aimed at restoring communities affected by conflict.
The state government has continued to promote the return of displaced residents to their ancestral communities, alongside the provision of shelter, food, cash assistance and other support to facilitate their reintegration.