Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Zamfara State have left their camps and taken up begging for alms on the streets, claiming they are facing hunger and starvation in the camps.
Women and children, who comprise the majority of the IDPs, say they are struggling to find food and essential necessities within the camps. They added that they have had to resort to serving food in restaurants for meagre pay as they have no other options available.
According to the IDPs, the state government has failed to provide much-needed assistance as earlier promised, leading to hunger and food shortages.
“Since we have no other means of livelihood, the only option left for us is to roam the streets and beg for alms to fend for ourselves and our children,” some of the women said.
One of the IDPs, Amina Ahmed, lost her husband during an attack by bandits in Zurmi Local Government Area. She fled with her three young children to the state capital, Gusau, where she is now struggling to survive.
After the news broke out, a well-known Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Umar Mohammad Kanoma, commented on the matter, stating that IDPs are the state’s responsibility and should be treated with utmost care. He blamed the government for not doing enough and urged wealthy individuals to assist the IDPs.
The state Ministry for Social Welfare and Community Development has not been able to address the situation, with the Director of the ministry admitting that IDPs are not being properly fed within the camps.
Many of the IDP camps in Gusau are now unoccupied, as the displaced people have left in search of food and means of survival.
