The first batch of 5,000 Nigerian refugees has been handed over to Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum by the Cameroonian Minister for Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji.
The returnees were part of thousands of Nigerians, mostly from Borno, who since 2014, fled in batches to Minawao camp located in Mokolo, far north region of Cameroon following onslaught on their communities by Boko Haram insurgents.
The repatriation was to implement the outcome of a tripartite commission meeting held in Marwa, Cameroon on February 10, 2021.
The ceremony was held in Amchiide, a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon, close to Banki in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The handover ceremony was attended by top officials from Cameroon, including the Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakary and officials of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, (UNHCR).
Handover the returnees, Cameroonian Minister for Territorial Administration, Paul Nji, announced that President Paul Biya had approved a big relief package which included food items, mattresses, blankets and other non-food items for distribution to all 5,000 returnees as support.
Nji commended Zulum for constructing homes where the refugees would be resettled.
Receiving them on behalf of Nigeria, Governor Zulum thanked Cameroonian President, officials and host communities, for taking good care of Nigerian refugees over the last six years, and appreciated the donation made by the President.
“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,” said.
Shortly after the brief ceremony, Zulum, flagged-off presentation of food and non-food items to the returnees with each male head of families received N30,000 while each woman was given N10,000 and a fabric.
The governor sympathized with his compatriots and promised that the government was committed to their security, welfare and the creation of an enabling environment for them to return to normal life.
Zulum had approved funds and supervised the ongoing construction of over 6,000 urban and low-cost resettlement houses sited in Banki, Gwoza, Kondugu, Kaga for resettlement of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs).
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