Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, Alhaji Sani Zoro, has said investigation had commenced into the sex for relief materials scandals that rocked some Internally Displaced Persons’camp in the country.
He also disclosed that Nigeria had the largest number of IDPs, currently estimated at five million, scattered across 21 camps in the country.
Zoro, who represents Maigatari/Gumel/Gagarawa federal constituency in Jigawa State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, made this known while answering questions from newsmen in Dutse,
He said it was alleged that officials at the camps gave food to young girls and women in exchange for sex.
Zoro, who was former president of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, explained that though no particular organization was fingered in the crime, the committee would not rest on its oars until the culprits were brought to book.
He said: “There are allegations which we are trying to prove, there are officials in the camp that take advantage of some young girls and women in order to give them preferential treatment when food and water are supplied.
“I am not trying to make any particular reference to any organization. But this is highly irresponsible and unacceptable to us.”
Zoro noted that the North East alone as at last December, had 2.3 million IDPs, while another 2.1 million were displaced by 2012 flood.
He said this figure was exclusive of IDPs from Bakassi and other neighbouring countries.
