9800 Nigerian Refugees To Be Repatriated From Cameroon

Posted by African Examiner African News, East/Central Africa, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, February 10th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Nigeria is set to repatriate 9, 800 refugees from Cameroon to Nigeria as representatives have arrived in Marwa, in Cameroon to complete the move.

The 9,800 refugees are those in the first phase of the repatriation from Cameroon from the 46,000 Nigerians taking refuge in Minawao camp in the country.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Mallam Isa Gusau, spokesman to Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, stated that Governor Zulum has arrived in Marwa in Cameroon with other officials of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

According to Gusau, the 9,800 Nigerians are the first batch of citizens who have shown interest to be evacuated to resettlement houses built for them by the Borno Government in Bama and Banki towns.

Gusau said: “Zulum is in Cameroon alongside the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Malam Bashir Nura Alkali and the ministry’s humanitarian director, Ali Grema, some officials from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, the governor’s adviser on External and Liaison Services, Ambassador Adamu Abbas who is also a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) established for the implementation of the tripartite repatriation agreement; a member of House of Representatives representing Bama, Ngala, Kala-Balge federal constituency of Borno State, Zainab Gimba, chairperson of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, commissioner for local government and emirate affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, special adviser on projects monitoring and evaluation, Eng. Abba Wakilbe and the governor’s principal secretary, Mustapha Busuguma.

“Today’s (Wednesday) meeting is in line with provisions of the tripartite agreement which has spelt out international best practices on humanitarian issues involving movements of persons between two or more countries as well as roles and limitations of all parties, and the protection of the rights of refugees who can only be repatriated at their own will.”