After 11 Years in Exile, Borno to Repatriate Over 3,000 Refugees from Cameroon
…Zulum fulfils pledge as fourth phase of voluntary return begins
The Borno State Government has finalised arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerian refugees from the Republic of Cameroon, marking a major milestone in efforts to return displaced citizens to their ancestral homes after 11 years of displacement.
The repatriation exercise is part of the commitment of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, to ensure the safe, dignified return and resettlement of all Borno indigenes who sought refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger at the height of the insurgency in the North-East.
The operation is being carried out with the support of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), in collaboration with Cameroonian authorities and international humanitarian partners.
On Monday, the Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation and member of the Presidential Committee on Repatriation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, met with a government delegation from Cameroon’s Far North Region and officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the Minawao Refugee Camp in Maroua.
The meeting focused on finalising logistical, security and welfare arrangements to ensure the refugees’ safe, orderly and dignified return to Nigeria.
During a visit to the Minawao Refugee Camp in December 2025, Governor Zulum personally assured refugees willing to return home that their repatriation would be conducted in line with international standards, describing the exercise as the beginning of a new chapter for families displaced by conflict more than a decade ago.
The refugees, mostly from central and southern Borno communities, fled to Cameroon during the peak of the insurgency, which destroyed villages, uprooted families and severely disrupted socio-economic activities across the North-East.
While in Cameroon, the refugees received support from the Cameroonian government and humanitarian agencies, including shelter, healthcare, education and livelihood assistance. Many were allocated farmland, enabling them to engage in agriculture and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid.
With improved security conditions in several parts of Borno State and ongoing reconstruction and resettlement efforts led by the state government, a large number of refugees have now indicated their readiness to return home voluntarily.
The Borno State Government has already deployed buses and other logistical support for the transportation of returnees, while the National Commission for Refugees will coordinate the repatriation process in line with established tripartite agreements involving Nigeria, Cameroon and the UNHCR.
“This is the fourth phase of the repatriation exercise, which began in 2020. The process is progressing smoothly in accordance with the tripartite and technical working group agreements,” Engineer Wakilbe said.
He added that all commitments made by Governor Zulum during his December 2025 visit to the camp would be honoured immediately upon the refugees’ return.
“His Excellency was here on 8 December 2025 and made clear commitments. As soon as the refugees return home, those commitments will be fulfilled,” Wakilbe assured.
In a related development, Engineer Wakilbe led a high-level delegation to the office of the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari, who commended the Borno State Government for sustaining a cordial and productive bilateral relationship.
Governor Bakari noted that the cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon has played a crucial role in ensuring the protection, welfare and orderly return of displaced persons across the border.
The repatriation exercise is expected to further advance Borno State’s post-conflict recovery agenda and reinforce cross-border collaboration in addressing displacement caused by insurgency in the Lake Chad region.