Prices of landed property have crumbled in Damaturu, the
Yobe capital, following relocation by residents to their villages and other
states due to prevailing security challenges.

It was revealed  that
some property owners were desperately looking for buyers to raise money to
build houses in their villages.

Alhaji Babagana Mohammed, an estate agent, said “we have
many properties lined up for sale because, people are relocating out of the
state capital.

“Since the November 2011 attack, many people who left have
disposed their properties while those who delayed for a while are now selling
their houses.”

Mohammed explained that a house which was initially offered
for N4 million, now sell for N3 million, “yet, there are no buyers.”

A house owner, who pleaded for anonymity, said : “My house
was initially bargained for N3.5 million but I refused, insisting for N4
million, now I am willing to take N3 million, but the buyer is no longer there.

“My neighbour was looking for N2 .5 million, but with no
prospective customer in sight, he reduced the price to N1.8 million and yet
nobody turned up.”

Reports say that many houses in the state capital have been
locked up with their occupants relocated to other areas within and outside the
state.

Similarly, many land owners were desperately looking for
buyers to sell the lands and raise money to start a new life but there were no
customers.

Meanwhile, the Yobe government has appealed to the fleeing
residents to stay back as the government and security operatives were working
hard to restore peace in the metropolis