Boko Haram: Displaced women accuse govt of unfair treatment

Women who have been displaced as a result of the on-going terror war in some towns and villages across Borno State, who are camped at various IDP Camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have taken to the major streets within the metropolis, begging for alms to cater for their immediate needs.

The women in their hundreds told newsmen that, the situation in the camps informed their resolve to take to street begging, adding that, it is the only way they can help themselves and their children at the moment since they have no hope of returning to their  homes as the insurgents are said to be marching from one village to the other in their continuous murderous moves.

The women, who said, they have been widowed by activities of the insurgents as their husbands have been killed in different attacks that forced them to flee their homes to seek refuge in the city where the attacks appear a bit minimal.

According to them, since their coming to town and being ‘caged’ at the various IDP camps, they have been experiencing untold hardship by those who were supposed to be taking care of them. “Government is not being fair to us, there  is selective care in the camps as young women are being treated well while we the older ones are left out,” said one of the women.

We have children, our husbands are no more, we have no place to go and there is nothing we can do to remedy the situation for now, the only option left for us is to come out to beg well meaning individuals for assistance to take care of the children our husbands left behind.” Falmata Mohammed a widow from Damboa said

Another widow Hajja Yana said, she left Damboa about three months ago, when the insurgents attacked, killing her husband and brother before her  very eyes. She claimed she ran away with her five children, as others were leaving the town too. According to her, “We went to Biu and when there was cholera outbreak in the Biu camp, I took my children and we left for Maiduguri, where we were received at the NYSC camp for IDPs. But it wasn’t better because there was also an outbreak of cholera at the camp too, there was no medicine and food was in short supply. We always struggle for the small food available, that is why I came out to beg people to help us.”