4-years after Boko Haram attacks, Nigerian village rises again with 300 houses, 288 market stalls

Four years after deadly Boko Haram attacks that left Ngwom village, located in Mafa local government of Borno state, deserted, the community has risen again with 300 houses and 288 market stalls.

The village was in complete ruins for several months after Boko Haram’s deadly attacks between 2014 and 2015.

However, the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) has restored hope by helping residents rebuild infrastructures that were destroyed.

To this end, over a million Dollars with co-funding from the Government of Japan was put to execution in building 300 houses, 288 market stalls, a primary school, a health centre, and boreholes among other things for the community.

Ngwom village, a few kilometers away from the city of Maiduguri and which was famous for being livestock and trading hub in Borno state, Lake Chad basin and the Central African Republic, became the target of Boko Haram terrorists in 2014.

The attacks carried on till 2015 with more than 3,000 villagers left displaced in Maiduguri where most of them have been living ever since.

The reconstruction of the deserted Ngwom is as a result of the UNDP under its Integrated Community Stabilization of the North East programme.

Already, locals living in the village, who deserted the area since 2014 are preparing to return to the only place they consider home.

However, the hope to return hope has been hinged on the condition that the Borno government will rely on the security ambiance before making any move to relocate.

Governor Kashim Shettima said: “We have to look at the security architecture before now, beneficiaries are equally grateful for their rebuild community and are eager to start off again.”

A UNDP representative was quoted as saying “Four years ago no one would have imagined that Ngwom would be home to thousands again.”

In the same vein, the Borno state government through its ministry of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation has been rebuilding communities destroyed by the anti-government militia, Boko Haram.

4-years after Boko Haram attacks, Nigerian village rises again with 300 houses, 288 market stalls

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!