705 Nigerian Refugees Return to Banki Town, Borno from Cameroon
A second batch of 705 Nigerian refugees has returned from Cameroon to Banki town in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, as efforts to resettle displaced citizens continue.
The Nigerian refugees returned from Cameroon voluntarily under an ongoing repatriation and resettlement programme after years of displacement caused by insurgency.
The 705 Nigerian refugees, drawn from 85 households, were formally seen off in Maroua, Cameroon, on Thursday by the Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari. Their arrival further reflects coordinated regional efforts to support the safe return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon to their ancestral communities.
Earlier in the week, another group of 300 refugees was repatriated to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area, marking the beginning of the fourth phase of the exercise. Authorities say the phased approach is designed to ensure proper planning and reintegration of Nigerian refugees returning from Cameroon.
On arrival in Banki, the 705 Nigerian refugees were 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. They were later taken to a reception centre for registration and completion of necessary formalities.
Officials confirmed that the Nigerian refugees returning from Cameroon will be resettled in newly constructed houses. The housing scheme is supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and implemented by the Borno State Government.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration has continued to prioritise rebuilding, rehabilitation and resettlement of communities affected by conflict. The initiative aims to restore peace and help displaced families rebuild their lives with dignity.
The Chairman of the Repatriation Committee, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, expressed appreciation to the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Aliyu Ahamed, for his support. He disclosed that Governor Zulum approved welfare packages to ease the resettlement process.
According to Wakilbe, each household head will receive N100,000, while each wife will get N20,000, alongside mattresses and wrappers. He said these interventions are meant to support Nigerian refugees returning from Cameroon as they settle back into their communities.
“Beyond bricks and mortar, the state government is providing direct assistance to ease the transition back home,” Wakilbe said. He added that the support demonstrates the government’s commitment to sustainable resettlement.
A director at the commission, Murdakai Titus, also handed over food items and building materials to the 705 Nigerian refugees. “The food items are to cushion their immediate needs,” Titus said, noting that the building materials would support shelter improvements as more Nigerian refugees return from Cameroon.
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