IDPs attack humanitarian workers, destroy cars

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) yesterday descended on
humanitarian workers in Maiduguri, injuring many people. Daily
Trust on Sunday also gathered that the displaced persons destroyed
five Lexus Jeeps.

The incident occurred at the Gubio IDP camp in Maiduguri, the
Borno State capital, during the monthly distribution of relief
items by a non-governmental organization, the International Medical
Corp.

It was gathered that when the group commenced distribution of
the items, the IDP rejected the rations, saying that it was too
small. Witnesses said the displaced persons then started hurling
stones at the staff.

A witness, Ali Umar, who spoke to our correspondent said, “they
started with ‘Ba muso, Ba muso’ meaning (we don’t want) before we
realized what was happening, they started throwing stones at their
vehicles. Five cars were destroyed. Soldiers attached to the camp
made efforts to calm the situation, but they did not succeed”.

A displaced person at the camp, Bulama Gubio, told Daily Trust
on Sunday that they had been without food for sometime.

“We have been starving for the past one month and nobody came
here to share or distribute food. And when they came, they reduced
the rations; instead of three per family, they gave us two. What we
got was not enough so our wives protested and the children started
throwing stones at them. I was personally against the attack,”
Gubio said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Damuli Investment Company, Liman
Alhaji Diban, a car vendor condemned the attack on the humanitarian
workers.

“It is really sad. It is unfortunate that people who came here
to assist had to under-go such. Our people need enlightenment,
because it not a right but a privilege,” Liman said.

All efforts to get comments from the Communications Officer of
IMC proved abortive.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) yesterday descended on
humanitarian workers in Maiduguri, injuring many people. Daily
Trust on Sunday also gathered that the displaced persons destroyed
five Lexus Jeeps.

The incident occurred at the Gubio IDP camp in Maiduguri, the
Borno State capital, during the monthly distribution of relief
items by a non-governmental organization, the International Medical
Corp.

It was gathered that when the group commenced distribution of
the items, the IDP rejected the rations, saying that it was too
small. Witnesses said the displaced persons then started hurling
stones at the staff.

A witness, Ali Umar, who spoke to our correspondent said, “they
started with ‘Ba muso, Ba muso’ meaning (we don’t want) before we
realized what was happening, they started throwing stones at their
vehicles. Five cars were destroyed. Soldiers attached to the camp
made efforts to calm the situation, but they did not succeed”.

A displaced person at the camp, Bulama Gubio, told Daily Trust
on Sunday that they had been without food for sometime.

“We have been starving for the past one month and nobody came
here to share or distribute food. And when they came, they reduced
the rations; instead of three per family, they gave us two. What we
got was not enough so our wives protested and the children started
throwing stones at them. I was personally against the attack,”
Gubio said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Damuli Investment Company, Liman
Alhaji Diban, a car vendor condemned the attack on the humanitarian
workers.

“It is really sad. It is unfortunate that people who came here
to assist had to under-go such. Our people need enlightenment,
because it not a right but a privilege,” Liman said.

All efforts to get comments from the Communications Officer of
IMC proved abortive.