The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has expressed serious concern over the growing cases of drug abuse, prostitution, and other social issues at the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Borno State.
At a town hall meeting held on Wednesday with over 9,000 households in the camp, NEMA’s North-East Zonal Coordinator, Abdullahi Sirajo, called on parents and community leaders to work together with authorities to tackle the increasing problems.
“Our meeting was very productive. We talked about how to reduce drug use among young people, prostitution, security threats, and other related challenges,” Sirajo said.
He added that several action plans were agreed upon during the discussion to help address these problems. He also reassured the residents of NEMA’s continued support as they prepare to return to their home communities.
Speaking on behalf of Sirajo, the agency’s Head of Operations in the Northeast, Manir Gidado, explained that the five-day awareness programme aimed to promote disaster preparedness and strengthen community resilience, in line with global trends in emergency response.
“The Muna IDP camp currently houses more than 9,400 households and around 48,000 displaced people from Mafa and Dikwa Local Government Areas,” Gidado said.
Many residents voiced deep concern about the worsening situation in the camp, especially its impact on children and other vulnerable people.
Nana Aisha, a community leader from Mafa, said the situation was getting out of hand.
“It’s really scary what’s happening here. Our children are being influenced by bad behavior, and we’re not doing enough to stop it. Some parents even rely on their children to provide for them, without caring how they get the money,” she said.
“We’re not sending them to school whether formal or informal so how can they tell right from wrong?”
