Boko Haram: Chad’s repatriation of 7,790 Nigerians

The Borno state government recently announced the repatriation of 7,790 Nigerians who had been living in the Republic of Chad for the past 10 years as a result of insurgency caused by Boko Haram. Making this announcement last week in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, special adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum said the repatriation was made possible after the governor led the federal government’s delegation to Chad that included the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon Yusuf Sununu, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Ahmed.

The returnees who have been provided temporary shelter in a refugee camp in Chad would be staying in Maiduguri until security is restored in their ancestral hometowns. Some of them are staying temporarily in the Gubio Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, pending their final resettlement. According to the statement, the delegation was received in Baga Sola on Wednesday by the Governor of Lac Province of Chad, Saleh Tidjani. The returnees were mostly Borno state indigenes who fled to Chad to take shelter after their communities were decimated and overrun by the terror group.

Last week’s deportations of Nigerians taking refuge in Chad constitute the first phase of the repatriation which took place after the signing of a tripartite agreement between the governments of Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Baga Sola. Governor Zulum also said that only willing returnees living in Chad were repatriated with their consent. In April 2020, violent attacks by insurgents in parts of the North-west zone forced an estimated 23,000 people to flee to Niger Republic for security. Reports from the United Nations estimated the number of refugees fleeing that part of Nigeria to take sanctuary in neighbouring Niger Republic to more than 60,000 since the first influx in April last year.

Since April 2019, people have fled relentless attacks by armed groups in the Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states of Nigeria. Most found refuge in Niger’s Maradi region are fearing and fleeing from the same insecurity in the border areas, an additional 19,000 Niger nationals have become displaced inside their own country. There are grave concerns over the alarming insecurity that has ripped across various parts of the country, especially in the North-east and North-west. The latest influx of refugees, mainly desperate women and children, following attacks in Nigeria’s Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states during the month of April, has heightened tensions and prompted air strikes by the Nigerian Armed Forces

Extreme violence unleashed against civilians, as well as murders, kidnappings for ransom and pillaging and looting of villages are some of the challenges militating against the return of peace to the country. Some of the refugees from Nigeria are being allowed to seek protection in Niger Republic despite border closures due to COVID-19. New arrivals are in urgent need of water, food and access to health services, as well as shelter and clothing.

Many have also been caught up in the clashes reported being blamed on farmers and herders of different ethnic groups as well as vigilantism, while about 95 per cent of the refugees are from Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara and Katsina states.

In a bid to resolve the problem, Governor Zulum revealed that the state government was working closely with the authorities in Niger Republic to relocate at least 7,000 refugees to safety in villages 20 kilometres away from the border. Apart from ensuring their protection, government is expected to profile and provide them with essentials in order to ease the pressure on host communities.

The efforts at salvaging the victims of insurgency remains a gigantic challenge. Without a doubt, assisting to alleviate the sufferings of victims and, at the same time, profile and provide them with essentials for survival must be undertaken. Against the backdrop of lack and avoidable deprivations, made worse by insecurity, no efforts should be spared to tackle some of the challenges caused by violent attacks by armed groups.

We welcome attempts at rehabilitating the repatriated victims of insurgency in the country, especially in the North-east. In a situation where the government can provide means of livelihood, wealthy individuals are expected to take charge and ensure the returnees are profiled and efforts deployed to ensure they rise to the occasion. Blueprint welcomes the current move aimed at uniting the remaining people left at the end of the road.