Cameroon repatriates 5,000 Nigerian refugees

Cameroon officials, led by Paul Atanga Nji, have handed over 5,000 Nigerian refugees to Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state.

The handover ceremony took place in Amchiide, a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon, on Tuesday.

The ceremony was attended by top officials from Cameroon, including Midjiyawa Bakary, governor of the far north region, and officials of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The returnees are among thousands of Nigerians, mostly from Borno, who since 2014 fled to Cameroon to escape killings by Boko Haram.

The repatriation was to implement the outcome of a tripartite commission meeting held in Marwa, Cameroon, on February 10.

During the handover, Nji announced that Paul Biya, president of Cameroon, had approved a relief package which included food and non-food items for distribution to all 5,000 returnees.

He also commended Zulum for constructing homes where the refugees were to be resettled.

Zulum had earlier approved funds for the ongoing construction of over 6,000 urban and low-cost resettlement houses, majority of which are to be used for resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The governor thanked the Cameroonian president and the host communities for taking care of the Nigerian refugees in the last six years.

“I wish to sincerely convey our deepest appreciation to the government of Cameroon under the distinguished leadership of President Paul Biya, for the enormous support to my fellow Nigerians who took refuge in the Minawao (refugee) camp. We remain eternally grateful,” he said.