The first batch of 300 Nigerian refugees has successfully returned from Cameroon to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, marking the start of the fourth phase of the state's ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise for those displaced by insurgency over 11 years.
The returnees, comprising 75 households, arrived in a coordinated and dignified manner, received by local authorities, security officials from Operation HADIN KAI, and humanitarian partners.
Emotional scenes unfolded as some returnees knelt to touch the soil of their homeland in gratitude, others offered prayers, and children, many born or raised in exile gazed curiously at their ancestral communities for the first time.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum's administration has prioritized safe, dignified returns as part of broader efforts to resettle displaced persons, rebuild infrastructure, and restore livelihoods in insurgency-affected areas.
Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation and member of the Presidential Committee, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, described the exercise as a significant achievement.
“This homecoming is a testament to our collective resolve. We are not just moving people; we are restoring lives and reigniting hope in our communities,” Wakilbe stated.
In a demonstration of strong bilateral cooperation, Governor Midjiyawa Bakari of Cameroon's Far North Region personally bid farewell to the refugees at the Minawao camp, reaffirming joint commitment to addressing the humanitarian fallout from the Lake Chad Basin crisis.
To support smooth reintegration, each household head received ₦500,000 in cash, with an additional ₦50,000 provided to each wife.
The Borno State Government supplied mattresses and wrappers, while the National Commission for Refugees (NCFRMI) distributed essential food items, including rice, millet, beans, and cooking oil.
This phase is part of plans to repatriate over 3,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon, following Governor Zulum's assurances during his December 2025 visit to the Minawao camp.
The initiative, supported by the UNHCR, Cameroonian authorities, and Nigerian security forces, aims to stabilize communities and foster long-term recovery in liberated areas like Pulka, Kirawa, and Gwoza.
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