Journalists have been charged to champion the cause of Internally
Displaced Persons in camps across the Country.
Stakeholders at a media round table and public presentation of a
research report making a case for IDPs through advocacy by journalists
for Christ made the call in Abuja.
Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja Bureau reports that the report, titled
“Managing Internal Displacement Crisis in Nigeria, towards global best
practices in guaranteeing the rights of Internally Displaced Persons
through the media” places enormous responsibility on journalists to
report and highlight issues that bother on national development.
Speakers , including the Director Daily Trust Foundation,
Mr. Theophilus Abbah who reviewed the report, a Board member of Journalists for Christ, Mr. Gbenga Oshinake, the NUJ Chairman FCT council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, represented by his Vice, Betty Abah an Advocate, a Development Journalist, Ene Osang among others lamented the insecurity in most IDP camps in Nigeria especially for the women who are often molested, raped and abused many times by the security agents meant to safeguard them thereby making life more traumatic for them.
They called for effective legislation and well spelt out legal
framework in the management of Internal Displacement in Nigeria.
According to them, lack of data led to inadequate plans as they
advocated an active and deliberate report of IDP situation in Nigeria.
For some Displaced Persons at the meeting, they have many problems and
often depend on self help and hand outs from generous citizens.
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