The repatriation of more than 46,000 Nigerian refugees, mostly from Borno who fled to Cameroon due to insurgency, is to begin on Feb. 27.
Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babagana Zulum on Public Relations and Strategy, made this known on Thursday in a statement in Maiduguri.
Gusau said that the date was fixed following a meeting of stakeholders in Maroua, Cameroon.
“Following a two-day visit to Cameroon by Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno, a tripartite commission meeting held on Wednesday night has fixed Feb. 27 and March 7, 2021 to commence the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees towards resettlement in Borno.
“More than 46,000 Nigerians, mostly from Borno, have been taking refuge in Minawao refugee camp, located in Mokolo, far north region of Cameroon,” Gusau said.
Gusau said that the meeting had in attendance, the Cameroonian delegation led by the host country’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Mr Paul Atanga Nji, governor of far north Cameroon, Mr Midjiyawa Bakary and some humanitarian officials.
The Nigerian delegation at the meeting included Zulum, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Malam Bashir Alkali, the Ministry’s humanitarian Director, Mr Ali Grema, and some top officials from the Nigerian High Commission in Cameroon.(NAN)
