Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has commenced plans towards repatriating 9,800 Nigerian refugees of Borno origin from Cameroon. 

In a statement released on Wednesday by Mallam Isa Gusau, the spokesperson to the Borno state governor, it was disclosed that Babagana Zulum, alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development are in Cameroon on a mission to repatriate 9,800 Nigerians of Borno origin who are among the 46000 Nigerians residing at the Minawao refugee camp in Cameroon. 

Gusau revealed that the 9,800 Nigerians constitute the first batch of citizens who have willingly agreed to be evacuated to the newly built resettlement homes in Banki and Bama towns of Borno State.

He also disclosed that Governor Zulum, before leaving for Cameroon had earlier held series of meetings with Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, as well as relevant stakeholders in a bid to establish procedures towards lawful repatriation.

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The Borno State Governor arrived in Cameroon on Tuesday, and on Wednesday led a Nigerian delegation to a meeting on the tripartite agreement signed between Nigeria, Cameroon and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 

Excerpts from the statement released by Mallam Isa Gusau reads: 

“Zulum is in Cameroon alongside the Perm Sec Fed Min 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, Engr Abba Wakilbe and the governor’s principal secretary, Bar 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.”

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