A total of 243 Nigerian refugees, representing 50 households, have started their journey back to their hometown of Banki in Nigeria after spending years as refugees in Cameroon’s Far North Region. These individuals were initially displaced by the violent Boko Haram insurgency, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and sparked a widespread refugee crisis throughout the Lake Chad basin.
The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) in Cameroon expressed its gratitude towards the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the safe and dignified return of these refugees. “A new chapter unfolds as 50 households, comprising 243 Nigerian refugees, embark on a journey back to their homeland in Banki. Their journey reminds us that voluntary repatriation is a step closer to a better future at home,” the UNHCR stated.
There are currently over 120,000 Nigerian refugees living in the Minawao refugee camp in Cameroon’s Far North, most of whom fled their homes a decade ago to escape Boko Haram’s brutal attacks.
The UNHCR has been instrumental in facilitating the return of these refugees, following similar efforts made for refugees from the Central African Republic who were displaced by rebel-led conflicts.
For the Nigerian refugees now returning, this marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that reconnects them with their roots and offers the hope of rebuilding their lives.