Tony Okafor, Awka
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has drawn national attention to a faith-based humanitarian centre in Edo State currently sheltering over 4,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs), while raising concerns over alleged state harassment and the plight of displaced Christians across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, the group said it recently visited the Home for the Needy Foundation, founded by Solomon Folorunsho, near Benin City.
The organisation described the facility—run by the International Christian Centre—as a “transformative humanitarian hub” currently hosting 4,513 displaced persons, most of whom fled violent attacks in parts of Northern Nigeria, including Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau states.
According to Intersociety, the IDPs comprise 2,058 males and 2,455 females, largely within the 0–16 age bracket.
The group added that over 1,200 others previously raised at the centre are now living independently in cities such as Warri, Lagos and Abuja.
Founded in 1992 as a shelter for orphans and vulnerable children, the centre reportedly began receiving a surge of displaced persons around 2012, following intensified insurgency in the North-East, particularly in Gwoza area of Borno State.
Intersociety said it was impressed by what it termed “unrivalled success stories” recorded by the foundation, noting that since its formal registration in 2013, the centre has produced more than 180 university graduates, including lawyers, doctors and engineers.
The group further disclosed that about 400 undergraduates sponsored by the centre are currently studying in various institutions across Edo, Enugu, Delta and Lagos states. Among its recent achievements, it cited a first-class law graduate from the University of Benin in 2026, alongside similar academic distinctions in engineering and business administration in previous years.
“These individuals were taken from extremely vulnerable conditions and transformed into productive members of society through sustained educational support,” the statement noted.
However, the organisation also alleged that the centre and its leadership have faced persistent harassment from Nigerian authorities since 2015.
It claimed that security agencies had carried out multiple arrests of the centre’s operators based on allegations ranging from child trafficking to forced religious conversion—claims it described as unfounded.
Intersociety further alleged that the centre had been subjected to hostile media campaigns and pressure from external actors, including attempts to impose religious changes on its operations.
Despite its achievements, the group said the facility faces significant challenges, including inadequate funding, overcrowded living conditions and insufficient educational and welfare resources for the growing number of residents.
It therefore called on government agencies, private individuals, corporate organisations and international donors to support the centre, describing it as a viable model for rehabilitating displaced populations across the country.
The organisation also expressed concern over the condition of displaced persons from Gwoza currently taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, estimated at over 120,000.
It warned that thousands more within Nigeria, particularly in Pulka, Borno State, remain vulnerable to renewed attacks and forced displacement.
Intersociety urged authorities to prioritise the safety and welfare of displaced populations, cautioning against policies that could expose them to further harm.
“The success recorded at the Edo centre shows what is possible when vulnerable populations are given structured care and opportunity,” the group stated, while reiterating its appeal for urgent humanitarian intervention.