Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum on Monday received 5,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.
The repatriation of the Nigerian refugees to Borno was led by Cameroon’s Minister for Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, and other officials of his country.
Zulum disclosed this in a statement on his Facebook page, stating that the returnees are mostly from Borno, who since 2014, fled in batches to escape Boko Haram’s killings.
Nji said Cameroonian President, Paul Biya has 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.
He commended Zulum for constructing homes where the refugees were to be resettled.
Zulum appreciated the government of Cameroon for their enormous support and care showed Nigerians who took refuge in their country.
The statement read, “Cameroonian officials, led by Minister for Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji have repatriated and handed over first batch of 5,000 Nigerian refugees to Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
“The hand over took place on Monday, at a brief ceremony in Amchiide, a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon, close to Banki in Bama local government area of Borno central.
“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, to escape Boko Haram’s killings. Many Nigerians in uncertain numbers, some accounts saying more than 60,000, fled to the camp from parts of Borno and Adamawa but over the years, the number came down following isolated returns.
“The handover ceremony was attended by top officials from Cameroon, including Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakary and officials of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR.
“Cameroonian Minister for Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji Paul 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.
“The Minister commended Governor Zulum for constructing homes where the refugees were to be resettled.
“Governor 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 and different others, with a substantial number already completed. The majority of them are used for resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons.”