Desperate internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Shehu Massa Camp in the Dikwa Local Government Area in Borno State have resorted to digging up ant holes to try to find anything that’s edible.

They say they have no money or food and they cannot leave the camp to search for something to eat because insurgents lie in wait for them in the bushes.

Most would rather return to their own communities – which are still sometimes under attack by insurgents – than stay in the camp any longer. They believe they would safer, would get work and would be able to feed their families if they returned to their homes.

The IDPs have been living in the camp for a year when they were moved from their homes because of the persistent and deadly attacks.

Some claimed insurgents had infiltrated the camp on occasion.

They told RNI reporter Rawa Bukar Tela that every day was an uphill battle for them, adding that they were not receiving any help from authorities or non-government organisations (NGOs).

“We just have to cope alone,” an IDP said.

Bulama Abbagana  said: “Since we left our communities, we have lived in the camp. Some are renting the spare rooms from other people and some are living in the houses belonging to their relatives, who have since left the town. But the situation is hard even though an organisation called Vendor used to help us with capital and foodstuff. But the money is not enough and some people had to sell half of the foodstuff they received to pay rent. We are begging the government to rehabilitate Shehu Massa Camp and help us so that we can make better lives for ourselves.”

One of the major problems in the camp, he said, was that the people could not go into the bushes to find something to eat because there were insurgents hiding there and they were afraid of being attacked.

“So some people dig the mud pools searching to fish and others are so hungry they dig ant holes looking for something to eat.”

The claim made about insurgents infiltrating the camp was refuted by the camp’s chaiman.

Abba Gana Tar, the chairman, said: “Since the beginning, there have never been any insurgents who have infiltrated the camp.”

He said that was just a rumour put out by the IDPs so that they would be sent back to their communities.

“There are more than 3,000 people here and it is true that their lives are hard. Every day is a slog. I have appealed to authorities on behalf of the IDPs but nothing has been done to help them.”

AISHA JAMAL