Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has spearheaded a significant effort to repatriate Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, leading a high-profile delegation to Baga Sola in the Chad Republic. The refugees, primarily from Borno, have been living in exile for nearly a decade due to the conflict around the Lake Chad Basin.
The delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, was warmly received by the Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Tidjani. The first phase of the repatriation process will see 1,768 families, comprising 7,790 individuals, return to Nigeria.
Prior to the repatriation, Governor Zulum attended the signing of a tripartite agreement in Baga Sola between Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The agreement ensures that only those refugees who voluntarily wish to return will be repatriated.
Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to the Chadian government for hosting thousands of displaced Nigerians and emphasized the importance of the repatriation exercise as part of efforts to restore peace and stability in the affected regions. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs praised Zulum’s leadership and cooperation with the federal government, commending his efforts in managing the refugee crisis effectively.
