Abuja — Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has given assurance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Durumi Camp in Abuja that the military is working to ensure their safe return to ancestral homes. The promise was made during a humanitarian outreach held in the camp to mark the International Day of Peace.
Represented by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Gen. Musa stated that operations have been intensified to clear terrorists and criminal elements from communities affected by violence. He emphasized that military victories are only part of the solution, noting that restoring peace also requires stability in food security, health care, education, and ensuring people can live with dignity.
During the outreach, women and children were encouraged to embrace peace and unity. The military also used the occasion to raise awareness on social issues that compound vulnerability among IDPs, including domestic violence, drug abuse, and negative coping mechanisms among youth.
The event saw distribution of food, clothing, and school supplies to families, as well as medical support and counselling services. The coordinator for Abuja IDP camps, Malam Idris Halilu, described the gesture as a morale booster and appealed for government and international donors to assist in rebuilding destroyed infrastructure—schools, health facilities—in order to facilitate sustainable return.
