The Federal Government and Borno State Government have successfully concluded the repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon's Minawao Refugee Camp, with the final batch of 680 individuals (162 households) returning to Banki town in Bama Local Government Area on Thursday.
This marks the fourth and final phase of the coordinated voluntary repatriation exercise, which began on January 27, 2026.
The phase started with 300 refugees returning to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area, followed by subsequent groups arriving in Banki.
The operation was jointly supported by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRM-IDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
At a farewell ceremony in Cameroon, Governor of the Far North Region, Minjinyawa Bakari, praised Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum for his dedication to ensuring the safe and dignified return of the refugees.
He encouraged the returnees to reintegrate productively and rebuild their lives in their ancestral communities.
Upon crossing the Nigerian border, the returnees were welcomed by the Commanding Officer of the 152 Task Force Battalion, Lt. Col. Michael Ndubisi, the District Head of Banki, Mohammed Shehu Umar, and other officials.
The refugees were first taken to a reception facility in Banki before being moved to UNHCR-supported housing units built by the Borno State Government.
At the reception centre, Chairman of the Repatriation Committee, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, cautioned against attempts to exploit the process for personal gain.
He announced that the state would verify its database to identify any individuals who had already settled in Banki without formally ending their refugee status.
Wakilbe warned that those found guilty would face sanctions, including exclusion from housing and livelihood support packages.
He also commended Federal Commissioner Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed and the NCRM-IDP for their ongoing assistance.
Governor Zulum approved a comprehensive reintegration package, including ₦100,000 per household, ₦20,000 per wife, mattresses, and wrappers.
The National Commission for Refugees supplemented this with food items such as rice, beans, millet, cooking oil, and condiments to aid family reintegration.
Overall, 3,122 individuals from 557 households have been repatriated to Bama and Gwoza Local Government Areas, key border communities hard-hit by the 16-year Boko Haram insurgency.
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