About 3.2M Nigerians Are Refugees, IDPs Since 2014, Says AFRILAW

Posted by Ignatius Okpara African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A non-governmental organization working in the areas of Law and Justice, African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), has hinted that Despite efforts by governments and international humanitarian interventions, not less than 3.2 million Nigerians have been rendered refugees or internally displaced persons (IDP) since 2014.

It said the ugly development is due to growing insecurity, especially insurgency in the Northeast region of Nigeria, which it says has continued unabated.

According to the organisation, out of the said figure, 2.9 million are in IDPs in Northeast, 684,000 in Cameroon, Chad and Niger IDPs, and 304,000 refugees in the four countries, which are part of the Lake Chad Basin region, leading to complex humanitarian emergency.

Founder/Chief Executive officer (CEO) of AFRILAW, Barrister Chinwike Okereke, who is also National Coordinator of Mukosolu Chinwike-Okereke African Migration Advocacy Project (MUKOCAMAP), an Enugu based civil society group, revealed this on Tuesday during World Refugee Day 2021 CSOs/Media Roundtable.

Our Correspondent reports that the theme of this year’s celebration, is “Together We Heal, Learn and Shine”.

He noted that the Theme’ focuses on power of inclusion, adding that there is greater call for greater inclusion of refugees in health systems, schools and sport.

Okereke said: “Particularly, refugees in Nigeria is about 71,365, asylum Seekers 1,634 and IDPs 2,880,168 which comprises 2,184,254 IDPs from the North-East and 695,914 IDPs from the North-West/North-Central.

“The crisis has been exacerbated by conflict-induced food insecurity and severe malnutrition, which have risen to critical levels in all four countries.

“Despite the efforts of Government and humanitarian aid, some 12.5 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance in the Lake Chad Basin region, with 3.5 million people remaining food insecure,” he said.

Okereke explained that MUKOCAMAP is a regional advocacy initiative of AFRILAW, created in honour of his late wife, who died in March 10, 2020 as the Principal Inspector of Immigration of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to advocate and promote dignified, safe and orderly migration including Refugees, Asylum Seekers and IDPs.

He however, called for concerted efforts of government, civil society groups and individuals to proffer solution that will end the insecurity as well as mobilize donation of food and other resources in support of the refugees and internationally displaced persons.

Speaking at the event, Enugu State Chapter Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barrister Sylvia Abanah, applauded the AFRILAW for the humanitarian campaign.

She noted that issues that leads to refugees, which can be found in any society, are situations where the human rights of people are violated, war and civil strife.

“Due to the emergency nature of their leaving their abode or homes, they leave with little or nothing running for dear life and they need our support,” she said.

The roundtable was graced by no fewer than fifteen Civil society groups, media personel drawn from both the print, Electronic and new media.