B’Haram: Zulum Leads Delegation To Repatriate Flee 7,790 Refugees

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has led a delegation of government officials from Nigeria to kick start the repatriation of refugees that fled the Boko Haram crises to Baga Sola in Tchad Republic.

The refugees, most of them indigenes of Borno, were displaced for nearly ten years by the insurgency which affected communities around Lake Chad Basin, according to release by his Media aide, Abdurraman Bundi, Thursday.

The delegation includes the State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

The statement pointed out that the Zulum led delegations were received on Wednesday in Baga Sola by the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani.

“In the first batch of the repatriation exercise, about 1,768 families comprising 7,790 people will return to Nigeria”, it added.

Before launching the first batch of the repatriation, Zulum reportedly attended the signing of a tripartite agreement in Baga Sola between the governments of Nigeria, Tchad and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while 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.

Delivering his address at the signing-in ceremony, Zulum emphasized 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.

Zulum’s delegation also comprises the Head of Chancery, Nigerian Embassy in N’Djamena, Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ghani, Member of Borno State House of Assembly representing Kukawa, Hon Karta Maina Ma’aji, Commissioners of Information and Local Government Affairs, Prof. Usman Tar, and Sugun Mai Mele and the Permanent Secretary Government House, Mustapha Ali Busuguma, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, has commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for the leadership he has been providing in the service of the people of Borno State, describing him as a good example of FG/State collaboration.

He said, “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.”