Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
IN a continued push to resettle its citizens, a second group of 705 Nigerian refugees has voluntarily returned to Borno State from the Republic of Cameroon.
The returnees, comprising 85 households, arrived yesterday in Banki, Bama Local Government Area.
They were formally seen off in Maroua by the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari.
Their arrival marks ongoing progress in the sustained effort to repatriate Nigerians displaced by years of insurgency.
This follows the first batch of 300 refugees, who were conveyed to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government on Tuesday, commencing the fourth phase of the repatriation exercise.
Upon arrival at the border town of Banki, the group was officially received by the Commanding Officer of the 152 Task Force Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ndubusi, and the District Head of Banki, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Umar.
The refugees were then taken to a reception centre for official processing.
As part of a wider rebuilding programme driven by the Borno State Government and supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the returnees will be housed in newly constructed housing units.
The administration of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has heavily invested in the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement of communities devastated by conflict, aiming to create the conditions for sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking on the return, the Chairman of the Repatriation Committee, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, thanked the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hon. Tijjani Aliyu Ahamed, for his support.
Wakilbe outlined the governor’s support packages, which include N100,000 per head of household, an additional N20,000 for each wife, as well as mattresses and wrappers.
“Beyond bricks and mortar, the state government is also providing direct support to ease the transition,” Wakilbe added.
Also speaking, a Director at the Commission (NCFRMI), Mr. Murdakai Titus, handed over return packages aqnd building materials. “The food items are to cushion their immediate needs,” said Titus, “while the building materials will facilitate further shelter rehabilitation as we expect more arrivals.”
Authorities confirmed that three more convoys are expected in Bama Local Government Area in the coming weeks, signalling a sustained commitment to bring refugees back to their ancestral homes.
