The Nigerian federal government has been urged by the Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) to look into the activities of some non-governmental organisations (NGOs). According to PeacePro, some NGOs may have allegedly recruited and paid people to set fire to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps located in northeastern Nigeria.
PeacePro’s Executive Director, Mr. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, made a statement emphasising the gravity of the situation and implored the government not to downplay the gravity of the charges. Hamzat stated that recent reports of fire outbreaks in displaced persons camps in Borno State, which were previously thought to be accidental, have raised concerns due to a viral video circulating on the internet.
The video shows a young man confessing to planned arson attacks on IDP camps and other sites in Borno State. The suspect, caught by a vigilante group, claimed to have been sponsored by two unnamed non-governmental organisations to carry out the arson attacks. According to the confession, the accused was given N10,000 for each fire, which targeted Monguno, Gubio, and Maiduguri. The alleged plot is said to have been running for over a year.
“Borno State Government claimed that a suspect has admitted that he and his “co-conspirators” were “hired” by some non-governmental organisations (names withheld) to set internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps on fire,” Hamzat explained.
PeacePro called on the federal government to respond decisively and proactively. Hamzat noted that the administration of Borno State’s indictment of NGOs calls for prompt action, including the imposition of an emergency on the activities of all humanitarian NGOs operating in the Northeast. According to PeacePro, these steps are required to protect the safety and welfare of internally displaced people in the area and to find out the truth about the accusations.
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