Nigerian Army to launch Operation Last Call aimed at moving IDPs back to their communities

NIGERIAN military chiefs plan to launch a campaign known as Operation Last Call in the northeast of the country aimed at facilitating the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Yobe and Borno states.

At the moment, Nigeria has the highest number of IDPs  in the world and at one stage, there were fears that many of them would face starvation. With over 2m people living in refugee camps, international agencies moved in although the situation has improved, the government wants to get the people to move back to their homes.

Lt General Tukur Buratai, Nigeria's chief of army staff, said that the new programme will enable residents return to their various communities. Speaking during the inauguration of a Gelengu community water project in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State yesterday, the army boss said he wanted the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency to return to normal lives.

General Buratai said: “We know the importance of agriculture in the life of ordinary citizens. We want to ensure that by the time we move into northern Borno very soon, people will return to their homes, resettle and commence agricultural activity for this year’s rainy season”.

According to General Buratai, the Nigerian Army will soon commission the vehicles for the operation and deploy personnel who will take the IDPs to their respective homes. He added that the recent water project was part of civil military-relation project for the community to ensure the security of lives and properties.

“We equally have such projects in Imo, Delta, Edo and Enugu states, so today’s project is not the first that we have done across the country. Apart from protecting your life, we also provide you what will sustain your life in this case the water project in Gelengu is quite unique,” General Buratai said.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, thanked the Nigeria Army for executing the project in the state, adding that it would directly touch the lives of the people in the area. He also commended Nigerian Army for ensuring security in the north and the country at large.