Cameroon: Government seeks to repatriate Nigerian refugees in Far North Region

This desire of the government, especially that fashioned by the Governor of the Extreme North Region of Cameroon Midjiyawa Bakari, was reiterated during a visit he granted to refugees in Kolofata, marking the 17^th edition of World Refugee day, which was celebrated Tuesday, 20 June 2017.

Before this day in Yaounde, the Ministry of External relations and United Nations High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR), had earlier protested on behalf of the refugees in Cameroon. This came with its fortunes as well as shortcomings. In the Far North Region, the refugees were facing evacuation by the Regional Administrator of that jurisdiction.

Following caution from some of the UNHCR aid personnel that were there in the camp, Midjiyawa had to understand that, most of these homeless brothers and sisters who had abandoned and fled their homes in Neighbouring Nigeria due to Boko haram threats, had nowhere to go to and that if they were sent away, they would be exposed to more insecurity.

According to statistics, this Region has since 2013 received over 70, 000 Nigerian refugees escaping from Boko Haram. Just the Minawao camp had welcomed 60,103 refugees since its creation in July 2013.

It has equally been noticed that the growing population of these Nigerian refugees has now reached the extent that, a camp strictly made up of only Nigerian refugees is gradually being created in this Northern locality. They now number about 900 of them.

Midjiyawa Bakari, speaking to the CRTV disclosed that, “this camp is not secured; we don’t know who is who. I think it is nice that, this population go back home”. He had thought of sending the refugees to Banki in Nigeria but considering the security conditions, he had to withdraw the decision back.