A second group of 705 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon has safely returned home, crossing into Banki town in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State on Thursday as part of the fourth phase of a major voluntary repatriation exercise.
The returnees, made up of 85 households, were officially seen off in Maroua by the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari, before their journey to the Nigerian border.
Upon arrival at Banki, the group was warmly received by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ndubusi, Commanding Officer of the 152 Task Force Battalion, and the District Head of Banki, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Umar. They were subsequently escorted to a reception centre for documentation and initial support.
The returnees are among thousands displaced by years of Boko Haram insurgency and will be resettled in newly constructed housing units built under a collaborative programme supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and spearheaded by the Borno State Government.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration has prioritised the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement of conflict-affected communities to restore sustainable livelihoods.
Chairman of the Repatriation Committee, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, expressed gratitude to the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hon Tijjani Aliyu Ahamed, for continued support.
He detailed the state’s comprehensive return package:
“Beyond bricks and mortar, the state government is also providing direct support to ease the transition. Each household head will receive ₦100,000, with additional cash, mattresses, and wrappers provided for families.”
Director at the NCFRMI, Mr. Murdakai Titus, formally handed over food items and building materials to the returnees.
“The food items are to cushion their immediate needs,” Titus said, “while the building materials will facilitate further shelter rehabilitation as we expect more arrivals.”
The arrival of the 705 returnees follows the first batch of 300 refugees who were conveyed to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area earlier this week.
Authorities have confirmed that three additional convoys are expected in Bama Local Government Area in the coming weeks, showing the Nigerian government’s sustained commitment to bringing displaced citizens back to their ancestral homes and rebuilding lives shattered by prolonged conflict.
