The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Sunday that it had provided relief materials to hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in the towns on Nigeria's border with Niger Republic.

NEMA's Information Officer for the North East zone, Mallam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs have taken refuge on the country's borders after fleeing from their communities, which have been overrun by Boko Haram.

Ibrahim said that the prvision of the relief materials was to create an environment conducive enough for the IDPs to be able to celebrate Eid el-Kabir.

“As Muslims celebrate the Eid el-Kabir, NEMA has provided truck loads of relief materials to IDPs along Nigeria's borders.

“The NEMA North East zonal office delivered the items in Diffa, a border town in Niger Republic, which is hosting IDPs from Nigeria.

“Hitherto, the IDPs have been residing in communities along the Nigeria/Niger border at Shettimari and Gagamari.”

According to Ibrahim, some of the items delivered to the IDPs include tents, clothing, cooking utensils and food items.

“The Le Secretaire General of Diffa, Hassan Ardo Ide, received the NEMA officials on behalf of the Government of Niger Republic.

“The distribution of the relief materials is a continuation of the strategic efforts of the agency to provide succour to the IDPs living in the border towns.” (NAN)

•Photo shows IDPs Camp