TheCable

Ibrahim Gaidam, governor of Yobe state, says there is no part of the state currently under the occupation of Boko Haram insurgents.

Gaidam saId this in Damaturu, capital of the state, while receiving a delegation from Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) who delivered relief materials to the state.

Gaidam, who was represented by Baba Malam-Wali, secretary to the state government, said the areas initially taken over by the insurgents had been liberated by the military.

“Presently, there is no part of the state that is under the control of insurgency, plans are in the pipeline to relocate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their communities,” he said.

Gaidam said the state had over 300,000 IDPs out of which 280,000 were living in host communities.

“We are awaiting clearance from security agencies who are mopping up the areas of explosive devices to give us the go ahead to commence relocation of the IDPs,” he said.

He commended the NPA for providing assistance to support IDPs in the state.

Isa Suwaid, leader of the NPA delegation, said the management assisted the IDPs with immediate and basic needs to cushion their hardships.

Isa said 150 mattresses; 500 pieces of blanket; 200 jerry cans of vegetable oil; 100 bags of beans; 100 bags o maize; 100 bags of millet and 1,500 nylon mats were donated to the state through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).