The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, gave the assurance on Saturday at the Durumi IDP Camp in Abuja during an outreach organised to mark the International Day of Peace.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Adm. Olusanya Bankole, Musa said the armed forces had intensified operations to clear terrorists and other criminal elements from affected communities. He stressed that beyond winning battles, the military remained focused on human security, peacebuilding, and national development.
“Security is not only about defeating terrorists,” he said. “It is also about food security, health, education, and the right to live with dignity. These palliatives are a temporary relief as we work to return families safely to their homes.”
The CDS urged women and children in the camp to embrace peace and unity, warning that development cannot thrive without stability.
“We are soldiers and we can fight, but what we want is peace. We want Nigerians to see us as partners in progress, not adversaries,” he added.
Deputy Director, Defence Gender Desk, Flight Lt. Ayaka Kotso, sensitised residents on the dangers of drug abuse, domestic violence, and other negative coping mechanisms, particularly among youths. Kotso noted that the military’s mandate extends beyond warfare to raising awareness on social issues that threaten peace, urging the displaced to adopt positive behaviours that would reduce their vulnerability.
Managing Director of Rapid Broadcasting Network, Faith Safe, represented by Mr. Godwin Amunde, pledged continued collaboration with the armed forces to amplify the voices of IDPs and advocate for greater government and international support.
“Peace and reintegration cannot be achieved without sustained collaboration between security forces, humanitarian actors, and the media,” Safe said.
Coordinator of Abuja IDP Camps, Malam Idris Halilu, praised the military for its outreach, describing it as a morale booster for displaced families. He appealed to the federal government and donor agencies to invest more in rebuilding destroyed communities, schools, and healthcare facilities to enable sustainable resettlement.
Halilu stressed that IDPs were eager to return home but needed assurances of security and access to basic amenities to rebuild their lives.
The event featured the distribution of food, clothing, and school supplies to women and children in the camp, as well as medical care and counselling services.
