Buni Yadi returnees meet ghost towns, water, food shortages

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May 12, 2016 4:31 PM

Returnees to communities liberated by the Nigerian Military in Buni Yadi, the headquarters and commercial city of Gujba Local government Area of Yobe State have met ghost towns with shortage of water and food.

Residents told Pulse that over 75 percent of structures in Buni Yadi were destroyed by the Boko Haram fighters that also killed 59 schoolboys at a Federal Government College during a night raid in February 2014.

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai, had on April 16, 2016 reopened the Damaturu-Biu road leading to Buni Yadi after years of closure as a result of Boko Haram attacks.

“A lot of returnees are suffering in Buni Yadi,” an indigene of the community, Tijani Ahmed told Pulse.

“75 percent of structures and other facilities were burnt down by Boko Haram members. All water sources were destroyed except one in the eastern part of the town where residents queue for hours before getting,” he said.

“We are suffering,” a returnee, Nguru Usman said. “The only food we eat here is giving to us by donors. The Boko Haram members parked all the food we stored and destroyed our houses,” Usman said.

According to Usman, Buni Yadi which was the commercial centre of Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state had it structures for businesses destroyed, leaving them with ghost towns.

Boko Haram members stayed in Buni Yadi for about one and a half years, destroying Gujba Bridge that connects the communities with Kotarko.

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