Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in different locations in Kaduna State yesterday cried out for help over lack of shelter, hunger, and loss of means of livelihood.

Speaking in separate interviews they said exacerbating kidnappings and banditry forced them out of their homes in 2020.

Many of the displaced persons, mainly from communities of Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas of the state, are also currently taking refuge in safer communities at the homes of relatives.

The Chairman of the IDPs in Zahu community, Gonin Gora, Habila Madami, said that their lives were hanging in the balance with no hope of the situation getting better.

Madami, a father of eight, said they were forced out of their home at Rumana, along Lagos Road, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state since January 6, 2020, by bandits terrorising the area.

“We lost our means of livelihood and now live as refugees in our own state in communities that open their doors for us to either live in their homes or pay rent.

“We are living a life of agony with no hope of returning to our homes in sight with our old fathers and mothers worried about where their children would bury them when they died,” he said.

He added that another big challenge threatening the survival of the IDPs was hunger, explaining that the displacement denied them access to their farmlands to grow food crops to feed their families.

He added that the recent flood in some parts of the state had worsened their situation, stressing that the little lands some of the IDPs were able to rent and cultivate were washed by the flood.

Similarly, the IDPs Coordinator in the area, Caleb Nayaro, also said that the displacement had forced their children out of school and robbed them of their source of income to finance their children’s education.

“Access to health services is another challenge, with the nearest health facility about three kilometers from Zahu community, where most of the IDPs were taking refuge.

“Our women and adolescent girls are now exposed to sexual violence and prostitution just to survive, eat, and be able to pay rent.

“Other people are taking advantage of our vulnerability to traffic our little children or subject them to child labour as domestic servants in the name of house help.

“We have gotten over 50 requests from individuals who requested that we give them our children to take care of since we cannot cater for them, considering our homeless and starving situation,” Nayaro said.

He disclosed that more than eight displaced persons who attempted to return to their homes or to harvest farm produce never came back.

“They were killed by the bandits in their farms while others were killed in their homes in the deserted communities,” he said.

He called on the state government to designate land in a safe location to resettle the IDPs so that they can have the opportunity to rebuild their lives.