Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, led a high-profile Nigerian delegation to initiate the repatriation of refugees who fled the Boko Haram insurgency to Baga Sola, Chad Republic.
The displaced persons, mostly Borno indigenes, have spent nearly 10 years away from their homeland due to the insurgency that affected communities around the Lake Chad Basin.
The delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner/CEO of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, was received in Baga Sola on Wednesday by the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Tidjani.
The statement noted that as part of the first phase of the repatriation exercise, 1,768 families, comprising 7,790 people, will return to Nigeria.
The statement read, “In the first batch of the repatriation exercise, about 1,768 families comprising 7,790 people will return to Nigeria.”
The statement added that before launching the first batch of the repatriation, Zulum attended the signing of a tripartite agreement in Baga Sola between the governments of Nigeria, Chad and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
The statement added, “The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, the Governor of Lac Province for the Republic of Tchad and Jerome Merlin, Second Rep UNHCR in Baga Sola, signed for the UN refugee agency.
Zulum leads delegation to repatriate 7,790 refugees from Chad
“Delivering his address at the signing-in ceremony, Zulum emphasised that only those that have voluntarily indicated interest in returning will be repatriated. The governor expressed gratitude to the government of Tchad for hosting thousands of Nigerians displaced by the crises in Borno.”
The Nigerian delegation also included Head of Chancery at the Nigerian Embassy in N’Djamena, Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ghani; Member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Kukawa, Hon. Karta Maina Ma’aji; Commissioners Prof. Usman Tar (Information) and Sugun Mai Mele (Local Government Affairs); and Mustapha Ali Busuguma, Permanent Secretary, Government House.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sununu, commended Zulum for his leadership and cooperation with the federal government.
“I want to thank the Executive Governor of Borno State for showing leadership during crises and serving as a role model in terms of complete collaboration with the federal government and for providing all the necessary support,” Sununu said.
