OVER 90,000 NIGERIAN BOKO HARAM VICTIMS ARE REFUGEES IN CAMEROON, SAYS UNITED NATIONS

”Necessary arrangements have been made by the Adamawa State Government to receive the refugees, who would pass through Adamawa transit camp from Minawawo camp in Cameroon. About  4,000 of the refugees are from Adamawa, and already agreement had been reached with some communities here in Adamawa to host about 1,500 refugees from Borno, who have indicated that they would want to remain in Adamawa,’’ he said.

Penpushing further reports that, the commissioner, who was not specific on the date for the commencement of the evacuation, said the refugees would be airlifted by the Nigerian Air Force. However, the refugees, majority from Borno, were displaced by the unending Boko Haram insurgency.

Also speaking, the Borno delegation team leader, Kullima Kachalla, in his own comment commended the government and people of Adamawa State, ”for the hospitality to the displaced persons from Borno since the insurgency started, adding, ”Borno government is committed to ensuring the success of the evacuation exercise,’’ .

The Head of UNHCR sub-office in Marwa, Cameroon, Mylene Ahounou speaking at the meeting, said: “the commission is waiting for final authorisation from the central government of Cameroon to embark on the exercise. “We urge the Nigerian Government to also reach out to Cameroon to facilitate action.”

Penpushing also reports that, a representative of the refugees, Ashigar Mohammed, thanked Nigeria, Cameroon and UNHCR for coming to their aid, adding that, ”We are eager to return home.”

Meanwhile, the UNHCR is a United Nations programme with the mandate to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.